Recently (in the context of standardizing reports of Iridium flashes), the issue of COSPAR vs NORAD satellite IDs has again arisen. Being from the USA, I "naturally" tend to favor the NORAD identifiers, but besides any national- istic reasons, as a computer programmer, I prefer the NORAD numbers which, after all, are always five digits long (at least for the foreseeable future). I admit that the COSPAR identifiers do convey much useful information (such as the approximate launch date and nature of the object) but over the years I have yet to see any standardized format for these. As examples, I've seen Vanguard 1's COSPAR ID given as 58-Beta-1, 58-B1, 58-002A etc.. And even in the post-Greek-letter era, would an object like, say, NORAD 24942 (a Pegasus debris) be 94-029ACE, or 94029ACE, etc.? Is there a standard? YY-NNN-AAA or YY-NNNAAA or YYNNNAAA ? Or some other? Just curious what the COSPAR-proponents have to say about this. Clear and dark skies! Ed Light Lakewood, NJ, USA N 40.107, W 074.232, Hgt +21m