Pre-flight Milstar 4 elements

From: Ted Molczan (molczan@home.com)
Date: Sat Feb 24 2001 - 09:47:16 PST

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    Using the ILAM information provided by Keith Stein:
    
    http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/Feb-2001/0290.html
    
    I have derived the following elements, based on launch at the start of the
    window, 2001 Feb 27 at 18:57 UTC:
    
    Milstar 4       23.0  5.0  0.0  3.5 d
    
    LEO Parking orbit insertion
    1 70001U          01058.79837963  .00000000  00000-0  00000-0 0    07
    2 70001  28.5970 265.4550 0008470 116.6180  10.8720 16.27228965    06
    
    Transfer orbit insertion
    1 70002U          01058.83870370  .00000000  00000-0  00000-0 0    02
    2 70002  26.6860 265.7080 7306180 352.0530   1.6490  2.26971460    07
    
    Spacecraft separation
    1 70003U          01059.06376157  .00000000  00000-0  00000-0 0    03
    2 70003   4.5010 309.7990 0000480 326.3210 165.2540  1.00342419    05
    
    No objects are expected to be left behind in the LEO parking orbit or the
    transfer orbit.
    
    The Centaur's final orbit insertion burn would begin on 2001 Feb 28 at 01:19:24
    UTC, for a duration of 2 min 12 s. I do not know how visible the plume would
    be, but this event would be illuminated by the sun, and the sun will have set
    for Eastern and Central North America. If the launch occurs significantly later
    in the window, then the sun will be more likely to have set for Western North
    America. Use the 70002 elset for this event.
    
    I do not know whether or not the Centaur will perform a propellant-dump, but if
    it does, then it should occur soon after payload separation, on 2001 Feb 28 at
    01:31:49 UTC. The circumstances of visibility would be about the same as for
    the final orbit insertion burn. Use the 70003 elset for this event.
    
    Ed Cannon and Mike McCants observed the propellant-dump of the 97068A / 25034
    launch. When the plume was first spotted, about 21 minutes after payload
    separation, it was about 1st magnitude, and about 1 deg in diameter. It was at
    a range of 19100 km, and about 85 percent illuminated. For the detailed
    account, see Mike's SeeSat-L post, "We saw the Centaur fuel dump!" of 1997 Nov
    07. (I would have included the URL, but SeeSat-L is not responding at this
    moment.)
    
    Payload separation is to occur at 260.45 E longitude, which equals 99.55 deg W.
    Spaceflight Now reports that the U.S. Air Force stated that the payload's final
    longitude will be 90 deg W.
    
    Ted Molczan
    
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