On Tue, 2 May 2000, Ted Molczan wrote:
> In partial response to Phil Clark's question, the two 57 deg inclination
> element sets bear a superficial resemblance to the orbit of 89061D, which is
> known to have broken up. Jonathan McDowell's compilation of U.N. orbit filings,
> shows the periods and orbital dimensions of many such pieces.
Looking back at my 1996-1997 issue of Worldwide Satellite Launches, on
page 162 I comment:-
"There has been some speculation that 23932 at 57 deg might be some debris
from the classified launch of USA 40 (1989-061B/20167) which was launched
into this orbital inclination. There is a great deal of debris
catalogued from this launch (no orbital data issued) and the monthly
Goddard Satellite Situation Report lists these objects as 'rocket body
debris' from the USA 40 launch, suggesting that the rocket stage
disintegrated in orbit."
But what about the sets of data for the objects in 27-28 deg orbits ? -
from the 1996 data surely that would have decayed by now, especially if it
is debris.
Phillip Clark
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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 !
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