SPACEWARN BULLETIN SPX-451 MAY 24, 1991 SPACEWARN Activities -------------------- (All information in this publication was received between April 25 and May 23, 1991.) A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates. (HQ USSPACECOM Catalog numbers are in parentheses.) 1991-035A (21313) RESURS-F10 May 21 1991-033A (21299) COSMOS 2143 May 16 034A (21311) SOYUZ TM-12 May 18 032A (21263) NOAA-12 May 14 033F (21304) COSMOS 2148 May 16 031C (21262) USA-70 Apr 28 033E (21303) COMMOS 2147 May 16 031B (21244) IBSS Apr 28 033D (21302) COSMOS 2146 May 16 031A (21242) STS-39 Apr 28 033C (21301) COSMOS 2145 May 16 030A (21232) METEOR 3-4 Apr 24 033B (21300) COSMOS 2144 May 16 B. Text of Launching Announcements. 1991-035A RESURS-F10 was launched on May 21, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using the SOYUZ launch vehicle. On board are equipments to continue the research of the earth's natural resources. Initial orbital parameters: period 88.8 min, apogee 274 km, perigee 194 km, inclination 82.3 deg. 1991-034A SOYUZ TM-12 was launched on May 18, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. On board are two Soviet and one British astronaut. Initial orbital parameters: period 90.2 min, apogee 333 km, perigee 264 km, inclination 51.6 deg. Docked with the orbital MIR on May 20, 1991. 1991-033A COSMOS 2143, 2144, 2145, 2146, 2147 and 2148 were launched on May 16, through 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a TSIKLON rocket booster. The satellites 1991-033F have been put into approximately circular orbits with the following parameters: period 114.2 min, apogee 1444 km, perigee 1414 km, inclination 82.6 deg. 1991-032A NOAA-12, a low earth orbiting weather satellite, was launched by the U.S. on May 14, 1991, from the Western Space and Missile Center, using an ATLAS-E launch vehicle. Initial orbital parameters: period 101.3 min, apogee 841 km, perigee 821 km, inclination 98.7 deg. 1991-031C USA-70 was deployed from the orbiting STS-39. 1991-031B IBSS, Infared Background Signature Survey, was deployed from the orbiting STS-39. Initial orbital parameters: period 89.4 min, apogee 263 km, perigee 248 km, inclination 56.9 deg. Retrieved by STS-39 on May 6, 1991. 1991-031A STS-39, the space shuttle DISCOVERY was launched on April 28, 1991 by the U.S. Initial orbital parameters: period 89.4 min, apogee 263 km, perigee 249 km, inclination 56.9 deg. Landed at Kennedy Space Center, Florida on May 6, 1991. 1991-030A METEOR 3-4, a meteorological satellite, was launched on April 24, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a TSIKLON rocket booster. Initial orbital parameters: period 109.5 min, apogee 1229 km, perigee 1190 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; italics 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 0204 UT, March NOVA I 150 MHz at 3.00 W 3, 1991. Switched to maintenance 400 MHz at 5.00 W frequency at 2127 UT, March 4, 1991. Inclination: 90.0 deg (Also known as NNSS 30480) 1981-057A March 25, 1991 Turned-on when beacon of METEOSAT 3 METEOSAT 2 137.078 MHz is turned off and vice versa. 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 2048 UT, February 26, 1991. 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 (Also known as NNSS 30170) 400 MHz at 1.25 W 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 from April 22, 1991 ----------------------------------------------------------- Expected Decay Dates 1991 ------------------------- 1960-BETA 1 Jun 6 1981-017B May 14 1965-020EW Jun 2 1983-022C May 10 1965-082DV May 28 1986-019BM Apr 28 1967-027A (COSMOS 151) May 5 1986-019HK Apr 27 1970-025M May 11 1986-019JT Apr 26 1970-089BP May 7 1986-019QQ Apr 26 1971-015BC Apr 24 1986-019TM May 2 1972-058DJ Apr 23 1986-019UM Apr 28 1972-058EA Apr 26 1989-100AC Apr 24 1972-058JJ Jun 7 1989-100AD Apr 23 1974-066A (COSMOS 673) May 21 1989-100AE Apr 26 1975-004FV Apr 28 1990-113A (COSMOS 2113) May 13 1975-099A (TIP 2) May 16 1991-005C May 19 1979-017KL May 1 1991-023A (COSMOS 2138) Apr 26 1980-030AN Apr 29 1991-024A (ALMAZ-1) Jun 10 5. Actual Decays. Actual Decay Dates 1989 ----------------------- 1988-108F Sep 9 Actual Decay Dates 1990 ----------------------- 1974-050A (COSMOS 665) Jul 6 1978-009E Aug 9 1976-021A (MOLNIYA 1-33) Oct 10 Actual Decay Dates 1991 ----------------------- 1965-048L May 11 1986-019TM May 11 1967-027A (COSMOS 151) May 6 1986-019UM May 2 1968-012E Apr 19 1986-082E Apr 21 1969-082HH May 12 1987-036A (COSMOS 1838) May 15 1969-082LF Apr 27 1987-036B (COSMOS 1839) May 8 1970-025M May 15 1987-100E May 7 1971-015BC Apr 24 1989-044C May 6 1972-058EA Apr 27 1989-077B May 9 1972-058JD Apr 23 1989-100AC Apr 24 1975-004FV May 1 1989-100AD Apr 23 1976-116A (MOLNIYA 2-16) Feb 21 1989-100AE Apr 27 1979-017KL May 4 1991-020A (PROGRESS-7) May 7 1980-030AN May 2 1991-027A (COSMOS 151) May 6 1981-020A (PROGRESS M-7) May 7 1991-031A (STS-39) May 6 1986-019BM Apr 29 1991-031B (IBSS) May 6 1986-019FZ Apr 15 1991-031D May 14 1986-019HK Apr 29 1991-031E May 12 1986-019JT Apr 28 1991-031F May 14 1986-019NK May 12 1991-034B May 20 1986-019QQ Apr 27 D. Launching Reports and Updated Information. 1. Updated Information 1991-017A (21147) USA-69 USA-69 was launched on March 8, 1991 by the U.S. using a Titan 4 carrier rocket. 1991-020A (21188) PROGRESS-7 Undocked from the orbiting station MIR on May 7, 1991. CORRECTION ---------- The name IMMARSAT-2 in section B. of SPX-449 should read INMARSAT-2. ----------------------