Re: Fltsatcom

Jason Hatton (jason.hatton@etss.u-strasbg.fr)
Fri, 17 Jul 1998 13:20:35 +0000

Aliendish@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I just observed fltsatcom 1 RK, NORAD # 12908
> it started at a mag 4. then went to a 0 about, or a 1, then back to a very dim
> (beyond the limits of my eyes) then back to a 1 then dim then a 1 again.
> Could this be tumbling?

Yes - it was listed was flashing with an approx. 18s period in 1996, I
haven't checked if there are any more recent observations of it. This is
an Atlas Centaur rocket (or in this case a fragment) which are generally
bright flashers. For further details see the Centaur page on VSOHP;

http://www.satellite.eu.org/centaur.html


Best wishes & clear skies, 

Jason P Hatton
ETS Strasbourg
67065 Strasbourg Cedex
France

48.538N / 7.731E / 143m