CCTV 4 , which is available on satellite TV throughout Europe , seems to have continual coverage of the mission. No chance of visuals here ( UK ) , we are under a very thick blanket of could :O(( John. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ted Molczan" <seesat@rogers.com> To: <SeeSat-L@satobs.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 4:07 AM Subject: Shenzhou 6 launched >I watched CCTV's live web cast of the launch, on 2005 Oct 12 at or about >01:00 > UTC. > > According to my clock, the launch was one or two minutes later, but I > suspect > that was the result of various delays in the web cast, so I assume launch > was at > 01:00 UTC. > > Roughly speaking, the northern hemisphere will have morning visibility; > the > southern hemisphere will have evening visibility. Use the search elements > to > determine your observing prospects. > > USSTRATCOM has yet to issue orbital elements, so for now, my estimated > elsets > will have to suffice. > > I suggest the following elements for the 2nd stage rocket: > > Shenzhou 6 r 15.5 3.4 0.0 4.4 d > 1 70601U 70600B 05285.08931662 .00809611 00000-0 60000-3 0 09 > 2 70601 42.4153 27.4814 0102545 130.0626 230.9292 16.03716253 07 > > The spacecraft's orbits are expected to be as follows: > > 1. Elliptical Parking Orbit until 2005 Oct 12 at 07:53 UTC > > The spacecraft and rocket body will be in nearly same orbit for the first > approx > 6 h and 53 m after launch. Below are search elsets for both. > > Shenzhou 6 7.8 2.5 0.0 5.4 d > 1 70600U 70600A 05285.08933035 .00794136 00000-0 60000-3 0 09 > 2 70600 42.4153 27.4814 0106040 130.0626 230.9292 16.02866600 01 > > The rocket's apogee will be nearly 5 km lower than Shenzhou's, as a result > of > its separation manoeuvre upon orbital insertion. Therefore, Shenzhou will > trail > a short distance behind its rocket. > > 2. Circularized Orbit after 2005 Oct 12 at 07:53 UTC > > Shenzhous 1, 3, 4 and 5 manoeuvred to raise their perigee as they passed > through > apogee for the 5th time. Shenzhou 1 raised its perigee by only 8 km; > Shenzhous > 3, 4 and 5 raised it more than 130 km, to nearly circularize their orbit, > and > Shenzhou 6 is expected to do the same. Approx 6 h and 53 m after launch, > Shenzhou 6 should be in this orbit: > > Shenzhou 6 7.8 2.5 0.0 5.4 d > 1 70600U 70600A 05285.33849619 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 02 > 2 70600 42.4207 25.8822 0002833 248.3475 111.7085 15.78579562 08 > > Note that the zero decay terms of the circularized Shenzhou elements are > intentional; past missions made a number of small manoeuvres throughout > their > flight, that essentially negated the effects of drag, apparently to > achieve a > nearly exactly repeating ground track every 31 revolutions. > > Ted Molczan > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: > http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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