Re: Help with recent obect data; I saw Mir and STS

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On Sat, 4 Oct 1997, Jeremy Ollerenshaw wrote:

> Does anyone know of a source of RCS and mass information for objects
> that have been recently cataloged. The OIG weekly updates do not have
> RCS data and the monthly listings do not have mass data. Can anyone help
> me find a source for this info for calculating decays?

It took me a bit of doing before I got OIG to add RCS to the SAt Sit 
Rept.  It seems to take a month or so of tracking before they get and add 
RCS to their listings.  That's why you don't see RCS in weekly updates 
which are for new objects.

Mass is only available if maker/owner of sat provides it. It is usually 
available for commercial and scientific sats.  Many military sats, and 
sats from certain countries do not have mass announced.
VSOHP has links to sat databases. You can find payload and sometimes 
rocket masses there. I don't know of any on-line source of mass for other 
objects.  That's why I wanted RCS info to be published.  That at least 
gave some indication of sizes of all objects, including debris.

I don't usually give Mir sightings here, but this one was special. I saw 
Mir and Atlantis EXACTLY, within about an hour, 40 years after I heard 
the stunning news that Sputnik 1 was in orbit.  I remember that occasion 
well.  What a nice way to celebrate the anniversary.

Jay Respler
www.injersey.com/Media/SkyNotes/
--
              JRespler@InJersey.com  
    Satellite Tracker * Early Typewriter Collector
               Freehold, New Jersey

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