RE: KH manoeuvre

From: Ted Molczan (molczan@home.com)
Date: Sat Sep 09 2000 - 11:42:52 PDT

  • Next message: Ted Molczan: "RE: KH manoeuvre"

    Bjoern Gimle wrote:
    
    > USA 129 fix                                      978 x 288
    > 1 24680U 96072A   00251.77660427  .00033500  00000-0  47323-3 0    18
    > 2 24680  97.8580 313.1267 0492510  72.3635 293.0722 14.78866062   158
    >
    > may be a reasonable orbit, based on the assumption that it manoeuvred
    > on the orbit just before Russell's observation on Sep.7 (about 18:56).
    > This kind of pass, near California southbound, has been used many
    > times before, and the 0.02 MM decrease is almost standard too.
    
    If it had manoeuvred then, I would have expected it to be detectably late at
    the time of Russell's obs of 07 Sep, say 7 to 8 s, but it was essentially
    on-time relative the previous day's orbit.
    
    I have analyzed the circumstances of a similar small maneouvre by 96072A on
    1999 Jun 17 at 23:48 UTC, and found that it occurred at perigee, northbound,
    over 79.9 N, 81.8 W. The track did not go near California.
    
    I used these pre and post-manoeuvre elements, by Mike McCants and Rainer
    Kracht, respectively:
    
    1 24680U 96072A   99166.88328653  .00028000  00000-0  36155-3 0    04
    2 24680  97.9090 229.3046 0487003  95.1966 264.8033 14.82234264    02
    
    1 24680U 96072A   99184.92478130  .00026053  00000-0  34396-3 0    06
    2 24680  97.8429 247.0924 0490304  35.9960 327.3915 14.81109513    04
    
    Note that the inclination did not change, contrary to the elements.
    
    Off hand I don't recall any similar manoeuvres. I probably won't have time to
    do any more analysis until late tonight.
    
    Ted Molczan
    
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