DEAR COLLEAGUE, WDC-A-R&S SHALL APPRECIATE IF YOU WILL SEND AN E-MAIL TO NSSDCA::REQUEST, TO REMOVE YOUR NAME FROM THE MAILING LIST FOR THE HARD COPY OF THE BULLETINS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ********************* SPACEWARN BULLETIN SPX-447 JANUARY 25, 1991 SPACEWARN Activities -------------------- (All information in this publication was received between December 27, 1990 and January 24, 1991.) A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates. (HQ USSPACECOM Catalog numbers are in parentheses.) 1991-005A (21065) COSMOS 2122 Jan 18 002A (21053) PROGRESS M-6 Jan 14 004A (21059) COSMOS 2121 Jan 17 001A (21047) NATO IVA Jan 8 003B (21056) EUTELSAT-II F2 Jan 15 1990-116A (21038) RADUGA 1-2 Dec 27 003A (21055) ITALSAT-1 Jan 15 115A (21035) COSMOS 2120 Dec 26 B. Text of Launching Announcements. ------------------------------- 1991-005A COSMOS 2122 was launched on January 18, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. Initial orbital parameters: period 92.8 min, apogee 432 km, perigee 413 km, inclination 65 deg. 1991-004A COSMOS 2121 was launched using the Soyuz-1 booster on January 17, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. Initial orbital parameters: period 88.7 min, apogee 275 km, perigee 177 km, inclination 82.6 deg. 1991-003B EUTELSAT-II F2 was launched on January 15, 1991 by the same launch vehicle that launched ITALSAT-1. 1991-003A ITALSAT-1 was launched on January 15, 1991, by the European Space Agency in French Guiana, utilizing the Ariane 44L launch vehicle. Initial orbital parameters: period 626.6 min, apogee 35,691 km, perigee 201 km, inclination 7.0 deg. 1991-002A PROGRESS M-6 was launched on January 14, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. to deliver expendable materials and other cargo to the MIR manned complex. Initial orbital parameters: period 88.4 min, apogee 224 km, perigee 192 km, inclination 51.6 deg. The spacecraft docked with the MIR on January 16, 1991. 1991-001A NATO IVA was launched on January 8, 1991. Initial orbital parameters: period 634 min, apogee 35,463 km, perigee 736 km, inclination 25.9 deg. 1990-116A RADUGA 1-2 was launched using the Proton booster rocket on December 27, 1990, by the U.S.S.R. The satellite carries multichannel relay equipment for telephone and telegraph communication within U.S.S.R. territory. Initial orbital parameters: period 1,474 min, distance from earth's surface 36,535 km, inclination 1.4 deg. 1990-115A COSMOS 2120 was launched on December 26, 1990, by the U.S.S.R. Initial orbital parameters: period 90.2 min, apogee 336 km, perigee 231 km, inclination 82.6 deg. C. Spacecraft Particularly Suited for International Participation (Category I). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Spacecraft with essentially continuous radio beacons on frequencies less ------------------------------------------------------------------------ than 150 MHz, or higher frequencies if especially suited for ionospheric or --------------------------------------------------------------------------- geodetic studies. ("NNSS" denotes U.S. Navy Navigational Satellite System. ---------------- Square bracket indicates updated information since the last issue. Spacewarn would appreciate suggestions to update this list.) Frequency, Power, Designation National Name and Orbit Information Remarks ----------- ------------- --------------------- ------- 1966-110A ATS 1 June 16, 1988 Weak signals. VHF 137.35 MHz translator on ~12 hr/ Inclination: 14.0 deg day. 1967-111A ATS 3 June 16, 1988 Weak signals. 136.37 MHz 137.35 MHz Location: 105 deg W Inclination: 12.1 deg 1973-081A OSCAR (NAV) 20 September 15, 1988 Operational transit. 150 MHz at 0.75 W (Also known as NNSS 400 MHz at 1.25 W 30200) Inclination: 89.9 deg 1975-100A GOES 1 [December 27, 1990] 136.38 MHz [Location: 91.1 deg W] [Inclination: 10.1 deg] 1977-014A KIKU 2 [October 9, 1990] (Also known as ETS 2) 136.11 MHz [Location: 127.1 deg E] [Inclination: 9.4 deg] 1977-048A GOES 2 [December 30, 1990] 136.38 MHz [Location: 60.3 deg W] [Inclination: 8.6 deg] 1977-108A METEOSAT 1 [December 27, 1990] Drifting. 137.05 MHz [Location: 41.9 deg E] [Inclination: 9.7 deg] 1978-012A IUE [January 7, 1991] 136.86 MHz [Inclination: 32.653 deg] 1978-044A OTS-2 [December 26, 1990] 137.05 MHz [Location: 4.7 deg E] [Inclination: 6.8 deg] 1978-062A GOES 3 [November 11, 1990] 136.38 MHz Location: 176.0 deg W [Inclination: 7.3 deg] 1981-044A NOVA I September 15, 1988 Operational transit. 150 MHz at 3.00 W (Also known as NNSS 400 MHz at 5.00 W 30480) Inclination: 90.0 deg 1984-110A NOVA III September 15, 1988 Operational transit. 150 MHz at 3.00 W (Also known as NNSS 400 MHz at 5.00 W 30500) Inclination: 90.0 deg 1984-114B MARECS-B2 [December 26, 1990] 137.17 MHz [Location: 55.5 deg W] Inclination: 1.8 deg 1984-123A NOAA 9 [January 9, 1991] 137.62 MHz [Inclination: 99.172 deg] 1985-066A OSCAR (NAV) 24 September 15, 1988 Removed from service at 150 MHz at 0.75 W 1956z on September 1, 400 MHz at 1.25 W 1990. Inclination: 89.9 deg (Also known as NNSS 24) 1985-066B OSCAR (NAV) 30 September 15, 1988 Commanded to operational 150 MHz at 1.00 W frequencies on September 400 MHz at 2.00 W 5, 1990 and placed in Inclination: 89.9 deg service on September 7, 1990. (Also known as NNSS 30) 1986-073A NOAA 10 [January 3, 1991] 137.50 MHz [Inclination: 98.582 deg] 1986-088A POLAR BEAR September 15, 1988 Experimental. 150 MHz at 0.75 W (Also known as NNSS 400 MHz at 1.25 W 30170) Inclination: 89.9 deg 1987-080A OSCAR (NAV) 27 December 5, 1988 Operational transit. 150 MHz at 0.75 W (Also known as NNSS 400 MHz at 1.25 W 30270) Inclination: 90.3 deg 1987-080B OSCAR (NAV) 29 December 5, 1988 Stored in orbit at an 150 MHz at 0.75 W offset frequency. 400 MHz at 1.25 W (Also known as NNSS Inclination: 90.3 deg 30290) 1988-033A OSCAR (NAV) 23 January 31, 1989 Operational transit. 150 MHz at 0.75 W (Also known as NNSS 400 MHz at 1.25 W 30230) Inclination: 90.4 deg 1988-033B OSCAR (NAV) 32 September 15, 1988 Stored in orbit at an 150 MHz at 1.00 W offset frequency. 400 MHz at 2.00 W (Also known as NNSS Inclination: 90.4 deg 30320) 1988-052A NOVA II September 15, 1988 Operational transit. 150 MHz at 3.00 W (Also known as NNSS 400 MHz at 5.00 W 30490) Inclination: 90.0 deg 1988-074A OSCAR (NAV) 25 September 15, 1988 Stored in orbit at an 150 MHz at 0.75 W offset frequency. 400 MHz at 1.25 W (Also known as NNSS Inclination: 90.0 deg 30250) 1988-074B OSCAR (NAV) 31 March 8, 1990 Stored in orbit at an 150 MHz at 1.00 W offset frequency. 400 MHz at 2.00 W (Also known as NNSS Inclination: 98.971 deg 30130) 1988-089A NOAA 11 [January 11, 1991] 136.77 MHz 137.77 MHz [Inclination: 99.010 deg] 2. Optical objects used for geophysical studies. These objects are also -------------------------------------------- suitable for studies of air density and atmospheric winds. Additional research interest is indicated by + for gravitational fields. (Square bracket indicates updated information since the last issue. SPACEWARN would appreciate suggestions to update this list.) [+ 1965-098C ALOUETTE 2 (rocket)] 1970-034B CHINA 1 (rocket) 1971-016A COSMOS 398 [+ 1984-106A COSMOS 1603] [+ 1988-021B IRS-1A (rocket)] 3. Satellites useful for simultaneous observation programs with small ------------------------------------------------------------------ cameras. ("NNN" denotes No National Name. SPACEWARN should appreciate ------- suggestions to update this list.) Apogee Perigee Incl (km) (km) Magn Remarks ---- ------ ------- ---- ------- 1963-049A NNN 89.9 1086 1060 +5 cylinder, 4.8 x 1.4 m 1964-001A NNN 69.9 927 904 +5 cylinder, 8 x 1.5 m 1964-053A COSMOS 44 65.1 817 608 +4 cylinder 1965-070F COSMOS 56.1 1515 1357 +5 rocket body 1965-073F COSMOS 56.1 1686 1387 +5 rocket body 1965-089A GEOS 1 59.4 2275 1113 octahedron and pyramid, 0.81 x 1.22 m 1968-002A GEOS 2 105.8 1570 1082 octahedron and pyramid, 0.81 x 1.22 m 1975-027A GEOS 3 115.0 858 818 octahedron and pyramid, 1.11 x 1.22 m 1976-039A LAGEOS 109.8 5946 5837 sphere, 0.6 m diameter 4. Satellite objects that are nearing their decay into the atmosphere. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Orbital observations of these objects during the decaying phase are useful for atmospheric studies. Objects predicted to decay within 60 days from January 14, 1991 --------------------------------------------------------------- Expected Decay Dates 1991 ------------------------- 1961-OMI178 Feb 16 1985-086A Feb 05 1965-082N Feb 02 1986-017CT Feb 09 1965-082UP Mar 06 1986-017CU Feb 13 1968-049B Jan 26 1989-096B Mar 01 1971-015AU Feb 23 1989-100AA Mar 05 1979-017AL Mar 09 1989-100V Feb 21 1980-030AP Feb 27 1989-100X Feb 22 1980-089AK Feb 16 1989-100Y Feb 25 1981-028BF Feb 05 1989-100Z Mar 05 1981-028BR Feb 05 1990-104C Mar 09 1982-033A Feb 05 1990-104D Mar 15 1983-044DC Feb 27 1990-113A Feb 04 1983-044EY Mar 08 5. Actual decays. ------------- Actual Decay Dates 1990 ----------------------- 1990-112C Dec 21 1990-116B Dec 29 1990-115B Dec 28 1990-116C Dec 28 Actual Decay Dates 1991 ----------------------- 1961-OMI195 Jan 05 1989-058A (COSMOS 2033) Jan 06 1961-OMI267 Jan 03 1989-092A (COSMOS 2051) Jan 21 1971-031A (METEOR 1-8) Jan 10 1990-081BZ Jan 21 1976-126P Jan 06 1990-105P Jan 05 1977-065BK Jan 21 1990-115A (COSMOS 2120) Jan 17 1986-019DN Jan 01 1990-115E Jan 19 1986-019EG Jan 05 1990-115G Jan 21 1986-083A (COSMOS 1788) Jan 21 1991-002B Jan 15