RE: Shenzhou 5 - preliminary search elements and visibility

From: Ted Molczan (molczan@rogers.com)
Date: Thu Oct 09 2003 - 02:37:23 EDT

  • Next message: HSHK: "Re: Shenzhou 5 - preliminary search elements and visibility"

    I based my preliminary orbital elements on a report of an 8 AM (0 h UTC) launch
    time; however, there is discussion on FPSPACE and a report at spacedaily.com
    pointing to launch at 9 AM (01 h UTC) and a 21 h mission duration:
    
    http://www.friends-partners.org/pipermail/fpspace/2003-October/009527.html
    
    http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-03zh.html
    
    The one hour later launch would result in the following search elements:
    
    Elliptical Parking Orbit until 2003 Oct 15 at 07:50 UTC
     
    Shenzhou 5       7.8  2.5  0.0  5.4 d
    1 70000U          03288.67587361  .00788058  82648-5  58603-3 0    31
    2 70000  42.4069  26.2082 0099929 134.5463  16.8336 16.04205144   103
     
    My guess is that the spacecraft will trail a short distance behind the rocket
    during this period.
    
    
    Circularized Orbit after 2003 Oct 15 at 07:50 UTC
     
    The spacecraft will circularize its orbit as it passes through apogee for the
    5th time, about 7 h after launch, whereupon it will be in this orbit:
    
    Shenzhou 5       7.8  2.5  0.0  5.4 d
    1 70001U          03288.67700930  .00036000  00000-0  19749-3 0    17
    2 70001  42.4080  26.2791 0004797 163.8920 321.6647 15.78791273   101
    
    
    The visibility latitudes would be a bit wider than those of the 0 h UTC launch,
    but more of a pass would be in eclipse.
    
    Ted Molczan
    
    
    
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