Decay watch: September 11

Alan Pickup (alan@wingar.demon.co.uk)
Sat, 11 Sep 1999 20:21:29 +0100

Earlier today, I posted an update to my Decay Watch page at 

      http://www.wingar.demon.co.uk/satevo/dkwatch/

with my analysis of this morning's decay of #10223, the GMS 1 Delta 1
deb BA. I show re-entry near a southbound equator crossing just S of
India at September 11 01:41 UTC +-90m. The orbit took it northwards
across the equator (near SpaceCom's decay point) at 00:57 UTC to the W
of Equador, thence across the NW corner of S America, over Dominica in
the E Caribbean at 01:05 and over the Atlantic. It crossed N Africa from
the Canary Is (01:16) to the N Red Sea (01:12) and SE across the Indian
Ocean. If it survived, it would have crossed Australia from Port
Hedland, W Australia (01:51) to S of Brisbane at 02:00.

My predicted elset for this orbit is:
GMS 1 r BA       1.6  0.0  0.0  7.3 d            148 x 146 km
1 10223U 77065BA  99254.03959265  .97636902  98745+1  21607-2 0 90882
2 10223  29.0768 273.8906 0001742  38.9395 321.0729 16.46989590158137

Alan
-- 
 Alan Pickup | COSPAR 2707:  55d53m48.7s N  3d11m51.2s W   156m asl
 Edinburgh   | Tel: +44 (0)131 477 9144     Fax: +44 (0)870 0520750
 Scotland    | SatEvo page:   http://www.wingar.demon.co.uk/satevo/