X-37B OTV 5 pre-launch search elements

From: Ted Molczan via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2017 10:52:43 -0400
OTV 5 is scheduled for launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from CCAFS on 2017 Sep 07 between 13:50 UTC and 18:55 UTC.

Analysis of the NOTAMs co-ordinates suggests an initial orbital inclination of about 43 deg.

The following search TLE is based on launch early in the window, at 14:00 UTC, subject to revision once the planned launch time has been announced.

OTV 5                                                    312 X 325 km
1 77200U 77200A   17250.42083333  .00000000  00000-0  00000-0 0    06
2 77200  43.0000  83.2000 0010000   0.0000 172.0000 15.85000000    08

The inclination and RAAN could be off by at least a couple of degrees.

The mean motion is the highest initial value of the four previous OTV missions (lowest was OTV 1, with 15.52 rev/d).

The NOTAMs for the Falcon 9 second stage de-orbit suggest the possibility of a much higher inclination. My guess is that any change of inclination would occur after OTV separation.

Ted Molczan



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Received on Wed Sep 06 2017 - 09:53:29 UTC

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