Regarding the Centaur (07027B / 31702), Pierre Neirinck watched for it in vain on 2007 Jul 25 within t-4.5 to t+13 min of 00:38 UTC, scanning +/- 5 deg cross-track at elevation 30 deg. I hope to investigate the matter later today, time permitting. Here are the payloads' elements after their latest manoeuvres: NOSS 3-4 (A) 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.9 v 864 X 1192 km 1 31701U 07027A 07206.33223135 .00000018 00000-0 20000-4 0 03 2 31701 63.3406 300.5821 0221300 149.5372 211.8739 13.61743534 02 Arc 2007 Jul 25.27 - 25.34, WRMS residuals = 0.010 deg NOSS 3-4 (C) 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.9 v 871 X 1185 km 1 31708U 07027C 07206.33410972 .00000018 00000-0 20000-4 0 07 2 31708 63.3523 300.6018 0212433 150.0625 211.2760 13.61795284 00 Arc 2007 Jul 25.27 - 25.35, WRMS residuals = 0.020 deg Manoeuvres to-date: 1. Within about one day of 2007 Jun 24 UTC, 07027A and C raised their mean altitude by 0.63 km and 0.38 km, respectively, resulting in station-keeping, with C trailing A by about 35 s. 2. Between July 12 and 24, both objects manoeuvred four times; 07027A raised its mean altitude by 13.6 km, 07-27C by 13.4 km. Typically, they have been station-keeping, with C trailing A in time by roughly 3 minutes. Both objects are about 78 km below their nominal operational mean orbital altitude, of about 1106 km (initial orbit typically is elliptical, about 1006 x 1206 km). If they maintain the recent rate of ascent of about 13.5 km per 12 days, then they will reach operational altitude about 69 days from now. Argument of perigee remains about 30 deg lower than nominal; it remains to be seen whether or not this will be corrected. Inclination is about 0.08 deg below nominal, which I expect will be corrected. Ted Molczan ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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