Iridium 24 and 46

ROB MATSON (ROBERT.D.MATSON@cpmx.saic.com)
1 Jun 1998 11:21:50 -0800

Hi All,

Has anyone seen a flare from Iridium 46 recently?  Rumor has it that
this satellite has failed, joining the ranks of 11, 20, 21 and 27.  To add
to the confusion, the satellite that USSPACECOM calls Iridium 46 is
probably actually Iridium 24.  In other words, #24 may have failed (which
is currently mistagged as #46).  A quick check of the mean motion
indicates a problem:

Iridium 46 (sic)
1 25105U 97082B   98148.03123305 +.00000262 +00000-0 +86518-4 0 01136
2 25105 086.3925 283.7249 0013862 130.0263 230.2159 14.34051478022764

--Rob