From: "Bjoern Gimle" > I believe it is similar in design and mission to the EORSATs > with MM=15.52, that have been operating in pairs or triplets for > many years (1-2 years/satellite). Instead of being deorbited at the > end of the useful lifetime, it ended up in a higher orbit. > > They were described as '6.0 0.0 0.0' ,i.e. spheres, in TLEs, and I > have seen a fair number of passes, always at +1 - +2 at short range. > However, images indicate a cylindrical shape. A reasonably accurate depiction of an EORSAT is at http://www.friends-partners.org/mwade/craft/uspm.htm The platform, if the solar arrays are still attached, will obviously have quite different projected areas depending on viewing angle. (The end-on view not shown on the above page will have the least cross section.) Also, the second picture from the bottom of http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/track/seesat.htm is a nadir-eye view of one as it passed over Maui a decade or so ago. I think it curious that reported brightness varies so little. Perhaps the satellite has settled into some stable orientation due to gravity gradient, magnetic, aerodynamic, etc. torques? ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun May 20 2001 - 08:32:14 PDT