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 BULLETIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ********************* SPACEWARN BULLETIN SPX-449 March 25, 1991 SPACEWARN Activities -------------------- (All information in this publication was received between February 26 and March 25, 1991.) A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates. ------------------------------------------------------- (HQ USSPACECOM Catalog numbers are in parentheses.) 1991-022A (21196) MOLNIYA 3-40 Mar 22 1991-016A (21143) COSMOS 2136 Mar 06 021A (21190) COSMOS 2137 Mar 19 015A (21139) ASTRA 1-B Mar 02 020A (21188) PROGRESS M-7 Mar 19 015B (21140) MOP-2 Mar 02 019A (21152) NADEZHDA-3 Mar 12 014A (21132) RADUGA 27 Feb 28 018A (21149) INMARSAT-2 Mar 08 013A (21130) COSMOS 2135 Feb 26 017A (21147) USA 69 Mar 08 B. Text of Launching Announcements. ------------------------------- 1991-022A MOLNIYA 3-40, a communications satellite, was launched on March 22, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a Molniya booster rocket. Initial orbital parameters: period 11 hr 41 min, apogee 39,082 km in the northern hemisphere, perigee 468 km in the southern hemisphere, inclination 62.8 deg. 1991-021A COSMOS 2137 was launched on March 19, 1991, by the U.S.S.R., using a Soyuz booster rocket. Initial orbital parameters: period 94.0 min, apogee 495 km, perigee 448 km, inclination 65.9 deg. 1991-020A PROGRESS M-7 was launched on March 19, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. The spacecraft's mission is to deliver expendable materials and other cargo to the MIR station. Initial orbital parameters: period 88.4 min, apogee 230 km, perigee 190 km, inclination 51.6 deg. 1991-019A NADEZHDA-3, a navigation satellite, was launched on March 12, 1991, by the U.S.S.R., using a Cosmos booster rocket. 1991-018A IMMARSAT-2, a communication satellite built by British Aerospace for International Maritime Satellite Organization, was launched by the U.S. on March 8, 1991, using a Delta booster rocket. 1991-016A COSMOS 2136 was launched on March 6, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a Soyuz booster rocket. Initial orbital parameters: period 90.2 min, apogee 336 km, perigee 257 km, inclination 62.9 deg. 1991-015A ASTRA 1-B, a direct television satellite, was launched for Luxembourg by the European Space Agency on March 2, 1991, using an Ariane booster rocket. Initial orbital parameters: period 717.5 min, apogee 35,853 km, perigee 4534 km, inclination 3.9 deg. 1991-015B MOP-2, a meteorological satellite, was launched on March 2, 1991, by ESA using the same Ariane booster rocket as used for the ASTRA 1-B. Initial orbital parameters: period 1431.6 min, apogee 35,963 km, perigee 35,433 km, inclination 1.1 deg. 1991-013A COSMOS 2135 was launched on February 26, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a Cosmos booster rocket. Initial orbital parameters: period 104.5 min, apogee 1034 km, perigee 953 km, inclination 82.8 deg. 1991-014A RADUGA 27 was launched on February 28, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a Proton booster rocket. The onboard relay apparatus is designed to ensure telephone and telegraph radio communications. Initial orbital parameters: period 1396 min, distance from the earths surface 34,994 km, inclination 1.4 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; brackets indicate 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 1978-012A IUE January 7, 1991 136.86 MHz Inclination: 32.653 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 1981-057A METEOSAT 2 February 7, 1991 137.078 MHz Location: 10 deg W Inclination: 3.8 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 1985-066B OSCAR (NAV) 30 September 15, 1988 Operational transit. 150 MHz at 1.00 W (Also known as NNSS 400 MHz at 2.00 W 30300) Inclination: 89.9 deg 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) 1988-051A METEOSAT 3 February 7, 1991 Turned-on when beacon 137.080 MHz of METEOSAT 2 is Location: 3 deg W turned-off and vice versa. 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. 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 would 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 March 15, 1991 ------------------------------------------------------------- Expected Decay Dates 1991 ------------------------- 1963-047M Apr 15 1979-017KL May 06 1967-027A (COSMOS 151) May 05 1981-053EN Mar 26 1968-097DX Apr 05 1986-019AX Apr 10 1970-025LK Apr 02 1989-096D Apr 01 1970-025LY Apr 03 1990-096A (COSMOS 2103) Apr 01 1972-058EA May 06 1990-113A (COSMOS 2113) Mar 25 1972-058JD Apr 08 1991-005C Apr 26 1975-004FV May 07 1991-011A (COSMOS 2134) Apr 04 5. Actual decays. ------------- Actual Decay Dates 1991 ----------------------- 1961-OMI 167 Feb 24 1987-020S Feb 18 1970-025JV Mar 13 1989-096B Mar 09 1970-025LP Mar 18 1990-068C Mar 18 1971-015BJ Feb 25 1990-081B (PRC 31) Mar 11 1971-015BP Mar 19 1990-104D Feb 23 1971-015CM Feb 28 1990-104E Mar 06 1971-015DT Feb 27 1990-104F Mar 10 1972-058L Mar 16 1990-104G Mar 10 1972-058FG Mar 07 1990-104H Mar 10 1976-126BH Mar 05 1990-105E Feb 23 1977-065H Feb 25 1990-105K Mar 02 1978-026BM Mar 13 1990-105Q Mar 18 1978-026HG Mar 22 1990-105S Mar 09 1979-017AL Feb 27 1990-105Z Mar 11 1980-030W Feb 26 1991-002A (PROGRESS M-6) Mar 15 1980-030AH Mar 10 1991-004C Feb 21 1981-053AH Mar 04 1991-012B Feb 26 1981-100A (SME) Mar 05 1991-014B Feb 02 1983-044AL Mar 22 1991-014C Feb 28 1986-017CV Mar 18 1991-016A (COSMOS 2136) Mar 20 1986-017CW Mar 05 1991-016B Mar 17 1986-017CX Mar 01 1991-016C Mar 08 1986-017CY Feb 24 1991-016D Mar 09 1986-019JP Mar 02 1991-016E Mar 22 1986-019KN Feb 25 1991-016G Mar 21 1987-020K Mar 02 1991-020B Mar 20 D. Launching reports and Updated Information. ----------------------------------------- 1. Updated Information ------------------- 1991-010A (21111) COSMOS 2133 Initial orbital parameters: period 1436.1 min, apogee 35,813 km, perigee 35,760 km, inclination 2.3 deg. 1991-011A (21116) COSMOS 2134 Initial parameters: period 89.2 min, apogee 259 km, perigee 206 km, inclination 64.7 deg.