I have analyzed the sketchy information made available during February, to deduce the approximate initial orbital elements of the mystery object that separated from Columbia: http://www.satobs.org/columbia/STS107mysteryobject.html From the orbital elements, I have estimated its area to mass ratio, which I have found to be consistent with certain elements of a shuttle's thermal protection system (tiles). The purpose of this hobbyist exercise was to see what might be learned by analysing the public information available in February 2003. I plan to revise it as additional facts warrant. This is not an effort to compete with CAIB's experts, whose training, experience and access to information and analytical tools far exceeds mine. Only the orbital dynamics aspects of the report are on-topic for SeeSat-L. Any responses to this message that are mainly about the Columbia accident and the investigation should be posted to Columbia-L. To subscribe to Columbia-L, send a message with 'subscribe' in the SUBJECT to Columbia-L-request@satobs.org Ted Molczan ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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