NROL-30 will launch NOSS 3-4 (the 4th pair of 3rd generation NOSS satellites), aboard an Atlas 5-401 vehicle, from Cape Canaveral, on 2007 Jun 14, during the period between 13:00 to 16:00 UTC. I suspect that the target plane is close to that of NOSS 2-3 (96029C, D and E). Assuming that the 96029 plane is targeted exactly, and the same ascent trajectory as NOSS 3-3 (05004A and C), which launched from CCAFS aboard an Atlas 3B-SEC, then lift-off would occur near 15:10 UTC, and this would be the orbit of the leading payload at the first ascending node: 1 70001U 07165.69972605 .00000011 00000-0 20000-4 0 02 2 70001 63.4420 43.4101 0107863 182.7436 177.3009 13.39714521 01 The second payload would trail behind by a short distance. The Centaur stage may be in a roughly similar orbit. In reality, the target plane is likely to be a few degrees either side of the 96029 plane, and the ascent trajectory is likely to be different than that of NOSS 3-3, due to the change of launch vehicle; therefore, there will be at least several degrees uncertainty in the orbital plane. The following is a rough guide to visibility; prospective observers should make their own evaluation, using the above elements. Northern hemisphere observers well south of about 55 N, will have evening visibility. At my latitude, near 44 N, passes will be low in the west, near twilight. The situation improves considerably at more southerly latitudes, say 30 N. Southern hemisphere observers well south of about 20 S will have morning visibility. I will revise the elements once the time of lift-off is known. Ted Molczan ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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