While checking the Goddard web site this morning I came across the following unusual two-line orbital elements:- 1 26303U 56001AAA 00120.25650089 +.00017579 +00000-0 +14813-1 0 00015 2 26303 057.0534 152.7595 3386985 086.7275 310.8029 08.16760307001878 1 26303U 56001AAA 00121.35822362 +.00017579 +00000-0 +14813-1 0 00023 2 26303 057.0534 151.3906 3386765 087.3287 310.3162 08.16799142001967 1 26305U 56001AAA 00120.80371434 +.00951290 +00000-0 +23520-1 0 00025 2 26305 027.1681 024.6191 3104973 111.7283 284.1069 09.21850499002050 Below I am showing the preliminary comments for the next issue of my Worldwide Satellite Launches, but there is the question of whether these two-lines actually relate to something real in orbit - especially since similar data were issued four years ago. Since I am more of a "sightseer" as far as observing satellites is concerned, I wonder whether anyone might have seen anything which could correspond to these two objects. If they do relate to something real that is in orbit then perhaps they are classified (DoD) objects, although of course they could well be small pieces of debris rather than payloads or rocket stages, and thus they would not be easy objects to see. On the other hand, these could be figments of USSPACECOM's computer's imagination and generated purely for some training programme, and thus not intended for public cosumption. The low perigees for the second objects from both 1996 and 2000 would rule out the corresponding element sets being the same object, unless, of course, it is manoeuvring which does not fit with it being a piece of debris. Any thoughts, observations (mental as well as anything visual !), etc would be most welcome ! Phillip Clark Draft for Worldwide Satellite Launches, 8th May 2000. UNUSUAL ORBITAL DATA ISSUED When the orbital data for the object catalogued as 26303 the first two element sets were issued with the international designator 1956- 001AAA, with the following orbits:- 2000 Apr 29.25 57.05o 176.31 minutes 510 km 7,565 km 87o 2000 Apr 30.35 57.05o 176.30 minutes 510 km 7,564 km 87o Similarly, the first orbital data issued for catalogue number 26305 was also give the international designator 1956-001AAA with the following orbit:- 2000 Apr 29.80 27.17o 156.21 minutes 247 km 6,213 km 112o It might be recalled that the "1956-001AAA" international designator appeared in June 1996 for the initial orbital data in respect of the catalogue numbers 23932 and 23934:- 23932 1996 Jun 22.81 56.99o 182.03 minutes 469 km 8,054 km 67o 23934 1996 Jun 22.61 28.26o 167.36 minutes 144 km 7,219 km 77o These sets of orbits are certainly similar which suggests that they might represent two real objects in orbit, possibly of a classified nature. Alternatively, they might represent orbital data which are generated by USSPACECOM for training purposes and which somehow have slipped into the public domain. The object 26303 was subsequently assigned to 1987-073D (see "Updates and Additions" above) in a totally different orbit: at the time of writing 26314 has yet to be assigned to another international designator. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phillip S Clark 22 Winterbourne Close Molniya Space Consultancy Hastings Compiler/Publisher, Worldwide Satellite Launches E Sussex TN34 1XG U.K. Specialist in "space archeology" - the older and more obscure the more interesting it is ! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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