Zenit RB decay observed ?

From: Harro.Zimmer (Harro.Zimmer@t-online.de)
Date: Fri Oct 13 2000 - 01:15:18 PDT

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    2000-056B (#26403) Zenit RB
    
    As Alan mentioned yesterday (decay watch Oct 12) there was an observation from
    an aircraft pilot (altitude 11 000 ft.) over Maseru, Lesotho (29.28°S, 27.29°E) 
    on Oct 11, around 17:50 - 18:00 UTC which could be the decay of the Zenit RB. 
    SPACECOM, Alan and I showed the decay on a more northern position over Central
    Africa:   SPACECOM  17:59 UTC +/- 20 minutes (13.8°S, 29.3°E)
              Alan:     17:52 UTC -15m /+ 30 m   ( 0.0°   23.6°E)
              Harro:    17:52 UTC +/- 07 minutes (02.13°N, 22.67°E)
    A small question mark:
    A careful reconstruction of the final orbit shows for Maseru at 17:59:43 UTC 
    a maximum elevation of only 04.96° (AZ: 68.86°, Range: 856,1 km). The geodectic
    altitude of the RB for this time was 130.2 km. The observed direction (NNE)
    is correct but the description of a  "fiery" object (3- 5 minutes visible,unsure)
    suggests a lower altitude on the reentry trajectory. Let us assume 87 km. The 
    elevation of the decayer for the observer over Maseru is then only 2.0° !
    It would be of great interest to see a more precise description of the 
    observation.
    
    Harro
    Harro.Zimmer@t-online.de
    Berlin. Germany 
    
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