Hello, I think you're aware that the launch of Minotaur with multiple satellite payload is scheduled at 02:12 UTC on Dec 8. Most of payloads are nanosats and picosats. To the point, I've failed to calculate proper quantity of satellites to be launched. My current score is 12. Here is the list JAWSAT MPA (Multi-Payload Adapter with some additional instruments attached) ASUSat 1 OPAL STENSAT MASAT DARPA Picosat (2 satellites connected with tether) Artemis (3 satellites ?) FalconSat OCSE (I didn't included into the count OCSE's container) The latest one is most interesting for visual observation since it is an inflatable sphere of 3.5 meters (!) diameter. OCSE means Optical Calibration Sphere Experiment and will serve as target for the U.S. AirForce ground optical stations at Starfire Optical Range. I've found an article about OCSE at http://www.ocregister.com/liftoff/feature/lgarde_19991029.shtml. Text version of it is providede below. Planned orbit is SSO 750 km, 98.39 deg, 99 min. I didn't found any information on a sequence of event so it's not known when the sphere should be released. But it's known that not all payloads will be released simultaneously. For example, Artemis group of satellites will be ejected from OPAL within couple of months. All the best, Vladimir Agapov. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Force to bounce lasers off Tustin-made balloon October 29, 1999 By GARY ROBBINS The Orange County Register The U.S. Air Force is preparing to launch a locally-built inflatable balloon into space so it can further refine its ability to track high-flying satellites. The highly-reflective silver-colored balloon was built by L'Garde, Inc. of Tustin, which earlier made an experimental antenna that was inflated above the earth in 1996, after being released by the space shuttle. After it's placed it space, the new balloon will automatically inflate into a 12-foot diameter sphere about 430 miles above the earth and remain in permanent orbit around the planet. "The balloon looks like a humongous ball-bearing," said Koorosh Guidanean, the L'Garde engineer who managed to get the inflatable structure designed and built in less than four months, for less than $500,000. The Air Force says it will bounce low-powered lasers off the sphere during tests meant to improve the military's ability to track and image satellites. The lasers will be fired from specially-equipped telescopes at the Starfire Optical Range at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. The Air Force says it must use low-power lasers to avoid heating the surface of the balloon and destroying it. The balloon's skin is thinner than a human hair. The sphere, like Mir and the International Space Station, will periodically be visible from Southern California. L'Garde intends to post upcoming sightings on its web site, www.lgarde.com. The balloon is one of several pieces of scientific equipment that will be lofted aboard a Minotaur rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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