RE: Upcoming NOSS launch on Atlas 3B

From: Ted Molczan (molczan@rogers.com)
Date: Wed Feb 02 2005 - 15:07:06 EST

  • Next message: Ted Molczan: "RE: Upcoming NOSS launch on Atlas 3B"

    Weather permitting, the Atlas 3B will lift off in less than 12 h, specifically,
    2005 Feb 03 at 07:41 UTC. The duration of the window has not been announced; I
    estimate it is 10 to 20 min.
    
    I have cooked up trajectory data for use with Rob Matson's Skymap program, as
    appended. Thank you to Rick Baldridge et al for your considerable assistance. 
    
    Rocket scientists likely would have a good laugh at these estimates, but I hope
    that they will be sufficient to provide a rough idea of when and where to look.
    
    I produced two separate trajectory data sets, one for MECO1 at 240 km altitude,
    the other at 640 km altitude. I suspect the lower altitude is correct, but it
    would not hurt to run predictions for both.
    
    Both trajectories are likely to remain in Earth's shadow for all or most of the
    ascent; therefore, we will not have the benefit of sunlight to illuminate the
    rocket's plume.
    
    I would be interested in brightness estimates or other observing tips from those
    who have observed upper stage rocket firings.
    
    I would like to produce some look angles for a few major cities along the coast.
    I am not proficient with Skymap, so will use other methods. If an experienced
    Skymap user would like to assist, please contact me by e-mail.
    
    Ted Molczan
    
    
    From left to right, the four columns contain:
    
    - time since launch, seconds
    - latitude, deg N
    - longitude, deg E
    - altitude , km
    
    Low MECO1 scenario
    
    140 28.98 -80.06 91.27
    160 29.21 -79.79 81.80
    180 29.55 -79.41 96.37
    200 29.92 -79.00 110.50
    220 30.21 -78.62 113.58
    240 30.51 -78.23 116.66
    260 30.82 -77.82 119.75
    280 31.15 -77.41 122.83
    300 31.48 -76.99 125.91
    320 31.83 -76.56 129.00
    340 32.18 -76.13 132.08
    360 32.55 -75.68 135.16
    380 32.93 -75.22 138.25
    400 33.33 -74.75 141.33
    420 33.74 -74.26 144.41
    440 34.16 -73.77 147.50
    460 34.59 -73.27 150.58
    480 35.04 -72.75 153.66
    500 35.51 -72.22 156.75
    520 35.99 -71.68 159.83
    540 36.49 -71.13 162.91
    560 37.00 -70.56 166.00
    580 37.53 -69.98 169.08
    600 38.08 -69.38 172.16
    620 38.65 -68.77 175.25
    640 39.23 -68.14 178.33
    660 39.84 -67.50 181.41
    680 40.46 -66.84 184.50
    700 41.10 -66.16 187.58
    720 41.77 -65.47 190.67
    740 42.45 -64.75 193.75
    760 43.16 -64.02 196.83
    780 43.89 -63.26 199.92
    800 44.64 -62.49 203.00
    820 45.42 -61.69 206.08
    840 46.22 -60.86 209.17
    860 47.05 -60.01 212.25
    880 47.90 -59.13 215.33
    900 48.78 -58.23 218.42
    920 49.69 -57.29 221.50
    940 50.63 -56.32 224.58
    960 51.59 -55.32 227.67
    980 52.59 -54.28 230.75
    1000 53.61 -53.20 233.83
    1020 54.67 -52.08 236.92
    1040 55.76 -50.91 240.00
    
    
    High MECO1 scenario
    
    140 28.98 -80.06 91.27
    160 29.21 -79.79 81.80
    180 29.55 -79.41 96.37
    200 29.92 -79.00 110.50
    220 30.21 -78.62 123.10
    240 30.51 -78.23 135.71
    260 30.82 -77.82 148.32
    280 31.15 -77.41 160.92
    300 31.48 -76.99 173.53
    320 31.83 -76.56 186.14
    340 32.18 -76.13 198.75
    360 32.55 -75.68 211.35
    380 32.93 -75.22 223.96
    400 33.33 -74.75 236.57
    420 33.74 -74.26 249.18
    440 34.16 -73.77 261.78
    460 34.59 -73.27 274.39
    480 35.04 -72.75 287.00
    500 35.51 -72.22 299.60
    520 35.99 -71.68 312.21
    540 36.49 -71.13 324.82
    560 37.00 -70.56 337.43
    580 37.53 -69.98 350.03
    600 38.08 -69.38 362.64
    620 38.65 -68.77 375.25
    640 39.23 -68.14 387.86
    660 39.84 -67.50 400.46
    680 40.46 -66.84 413.07
    700 41.10 -66.16 425.68
    720 41.77 -65.47 438.28
    740 42.45 -64.75 450.89
    760 43.16 -64.02 463.50
    780 43.89 -63.26 476.11
    800 44.64 -62.49 488.71
    820 45.42 -61.69 501.32
    840 46.22 -60.86 513.93
    860 47.05 -60.01 526.53
    880 47.90 -59.13 539.14
    900 48.78 -58.23 551.75
    920 49.69 -57.29 564.36
    940 50.63 -56.32 576.96
    960 51.59 -55.32 589.57
    980 52.59 -54.28 602.18
    1000 53.61 -53.20 614.79
    1020 54.67 -52.08 627.39
    1040 55.76 -50.91 640.00
    
    
    
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    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Feb 02 2005 - 15:12:39 EST