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-450 APRIL 25, 1991 SPACEWARN Activities (All information in this publication was received between March 26 and April 24, 1991.) A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates. (HQ USSPACECOM Catalog numbers are in parentheses.) 1991-029A (21230) COSMOS 2142 Apr 16 1991-025C (21218) COSMOS 2141 Apr 04 028A (21227) ASC-2 Apr 13 025B (21217) COSMOS 2140 Apr 04 027B (21225) GRO Apr 05 025A (21216) COSMOS 2139 Apr 04 027A (21224) STS-37 Apr 05 024A (21213) ALMAZ-1 Mar 31 026A (21222) ANIK E-2 Apr 05 023A (21203) COSMOS 2138 Mar 26 B. Text of Launching Announcements. 1991-029A COSMOS 2142 was launched on April 16, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a COSMOS rocket booster. Initial orbital parameters: period 105 min, apogee 1031 km, perigee 983 km, inclination 83 deg. 1991-028A ASC-2 was launched on April 13, 1991, by the U.S. Initial orbital parameters: period 656.1 min, apogee 35,920 km, perigee 1348 km, inclination 22.5 deg. 1991-027B GRO (Gamma Ray Observatory) was deployed from the orbiting STS-37 on April 5, 1991. Initial orbital parameters: period 93.7 min, apogee 463 km, perigee 449 km, inclination 28.5 deg. 1991-027A STS-37, the space shuttle ATLANTIS was launched on April 5, 1991 by the U.S. Initial orbital parameters: period 93.8 min, apogee 465 km, perigee 449 km, inclination 28.5 deg. 1991-026A ANIK E-2 was launched on April 5, 1991, by ESA for Canada. Initial orbital parameters: period 1090.7 min, apogee 35,748 km, perigee 21,693 km, inclination 0.2 deg. 1991-025A COSMOS 2139,2140,2141 were launched on April 4, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. through using a PROTON rocket booster. The satellites have been put into 1991-025C approximately circular orbits with the following parameters: period 676 min, distance from the earths surface 19,148 km, inclination 64.8 deg. 1991-024A ALMAZ-1 was launched on March 31, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a PROTON rocket booster. The flight program provides for filming of the territory of the Soviet Union and other countries in the interest of geology, cartography, oceanography, ecology, and agriculture. Initial orbital parameters: period 88.7 min, apogee 280 km, perigee 170 km, inclination 72.7 deg. 1991-023A COSMOS 2138 was launched on March 26, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. Initial orbital parameters: period 89.6 min, apogee 369 km, perigee 175 km, inclination 67.2 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.) Dessignation, Epoch, Frequency, Power, National Name and Orbit Information Remarks ------------- ------------------------ ------- 1966-110A June 16, 1988 Weak signals. VHF translator ATS 1 137.35 MHz on ~12 hr/day Inclination: 14.0 deg 1967-111A June 16, 1988 Weak signals ATS 3 136.37 MHz 137.35 MHz Location: 105 deg W Inclination: 12.1 deg 1973-081A September 15, 1988 Operational transit OSCAR (NAV) 20 150 MHz at 0.75 W (Also known as NNSS 30200) 400 MHz at 1.25 W Inclination: 89.9 deg 1975-100A [March 23,1991] GOES 1 136.38 MHz [Location: 82.4 deg W] [Inclination: 10.3 deg] 1977-048A [March 14, 1991] GOES 2 136.38 MHz [Location: 59.7 deg W] [Inclination: 8.7 deg] 1978-012A [April 5, 1991] IUE 136.86 MHz [Inclination: 32.731 deg] 1978-062A [March 15, 1991] GOES 3 136.38 MHz [Location: 177.0 deg W] [Inclination: 7.6 deg] 1981-044A [March 4, 1991 Removed from service 0204Z Mar 3] NOVA I 150 MHz at 3.00 W [Switched to maintenance frequency] 400 MHz at 5.00 W [at 2127Z Mar 4] Inclination: 90.0 deg (Also known as NNSS 30480) 1981-057A [March 25, 1991] METEOSAT 2 137.078 MHz [Location: 10.3 deg W] [Inclination: 4.0 deg] 1984-110A September 15, 1988 Operational transit NOVA III 150 MHz at 3.00 W (Also known as NNSS 30500) 400 MHz at 5.00 W Inclination: 90.0 deg 1984-114B [April 1, 1991] MARECS-B2 137.17 MHz [Location: 55.6 deg W] [Inclination: 2.0 deg] 1984-123A [April 7, 1991] NOAA 9 137.62 MHz [Inclination: 99.173 deg] 1985-066B [February 26, 1991 Switched to maintenance frequency] OSCAR (NAV) 30 150 MHz at 1.00 W [and placed in on-orbit storage] 400 MHz at 2.00 W [2048Z Feb 26] Inclination: 89.9 deg (Also known as NNSS 30300) 1986-073A [April 7, 1991] NOAA 10 137.50 MHz [Inclination: 98.572 deg] 1986-088A September 15, 1988 Experimental POLAR BEAR 150 MHz at 0.75 W 400 MHz at 1.25 W (Also known as NNSS 30170) Inclination: 89.9 deg 1987-080A December 5, 1988 Operational transit OSCAR (NAV) 27 150 MHz at 0.75 W (Also known as NNSS 30270) 400 MHz at 1.25 W Inclination: 90.3 deg 1987-080B [February 7, 1991 Operational transit] OSCAR (NAV) 29 150 MHz at 0.75 W (Also known as NNSS 30290) 400 MHz at 1.25 W Inclination: 90.3 deg 1988-033A January 31, 1989 Operational transit OSCAR (NAV) 23 150 MHz at 0.75 W (Also known as NNSS 30230) 400 MHz at 1.25 W Inclination: 90.4 deg 1988-033B [February 26, 1991 Operational transit] OSCAR (NAV) 32 150 MHz at 1.00 W (Also known as NNSS 30320) 400 MHz at 2.00 W Inclination: 90.4 deg 1988-051A February 7, 1991 Turned-on when beacon of METEOSAT 2 METEOSAT 3 137.080 MHz is turned off and vice versa Location: 3 deg W 1988-052A September 15, 1988 Operational transit NOVA II 150 MHz at 3.00 W (Also known as NNSS 30490) 400 MHz at 5.00 W Inclination: 90.0 deg 1988-074A September 15, 1988 Stored in orbit at an offset OSCAR (NAV) 25 150 MHz at 0.75 W frequency 400 MHz at 1.25 W (Also known as NNSS 30250) Inclination: 90.0 deg 1988-074B March 8, 1990 Stored in orbit at an offset OSCAR (NAV) 31 150 MHz at 1.00 W frequency 400 MHz at 2.00 W (Also known as NNSS 30130) Inclination: 98.971 deg 1988-089A [April 9, 1991] NOAA 11 136.77 MHz 137.77 MHz [Inclination: 99.024 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 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. Note: For maneuverable spacecraft the prediction may be invalid.) Objects predicted to decay with 60 days --------------------------------------- Expected Decay Dates 1991 ------------------------- NOT AVAILABLE 5. Actual Decays. Actual Decay Dates 1991 ----------------------- 1961-OMI 265 Mar 20 1968-097DX Apr 09 1963-047M Apr 10 1970-025LJ Mar 20 1968-091Z Mar 20 1970-025LK Mar 28 1970-025LY Mar 29 1990-105Q Apr 09 1970-025MC Apr 01 1990-105X Apr 12 1972-058DJ Mar 22 1990-105Y Apr 12 1980-053A (MOLNIYA 1-47) Apr 01 1990-105AC Apr 08 1981-053EN Mar 25 1990-105AD Apr 08 1984-056D Apr 14 1991-008A (COSMOS 2124) Apr 07 1986-019AX Apr 01 1991-011A (COSMOS 2134) Apr 01 1986-019JU Feb 15 1991-016A (COSMOS 2136) Mar 20 1986-019SF Mar 26 1991-016F Mar 22 1986-019SS Apr 01 1991-016H Mar 22 1987-020CW Mar 28 1991-022B Apr 02 1987-020DG Mar 30 1991-022C Mar 28 1987-036G Apr 12 1991-022E Mar 29 1989-045B Mar 25 1991-023B Mar 29 1989-079A (COSMOS 2046) Apr 16 1991-024B Apr 02 1989-096D Apr 15 1991-025D Apr 04 1990-096A (COSMOS 2103) Apr 03 1991-027A Apr 11 D. Launching Reports and Updated Information. 1. Updated Information 1991-020A (21188) PROGRESS M-7 Docked with the orbiting station MIR on March 28, 1991. 1991-027A (21224) STS-37 Landed in California on April 11, 1991 CORRECTION ---------- Decay of 1988-038A COSMOS 2033 on January 9, in section C. 5, of SPX-449, the International ID should read 1989-058A, NOT 1988-038A. -------------