Kvant rockets preceding Mir?
Jim Stamm (nemo@flash.net)
Wed, 5 Nov 97 10:13:42 -0700
A couple of times while searching with binoculars for the "entrance" of
Mir, I noticed a satellite (once a pair) preceding the station along the
same path by less than a minute. Jeff Medkeff suggested that I was
viewing Kvant (rocket casings from the 1987/89 additions to the complex?).
I have followed the predictions of both on the Satellite Ephemeris
Service for about 6 weeks, and notice that the separation is usually
within seconds, but at times Kvant precedes Mir by up to 22 minutes.
My question is exactly what is KVANT Rkt(?) USS=1987 030 A=N17845, and
if it is really doing a little dance with Mir, then what are the orbital
characteristics that make this action of no safety concern?
-Jim