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                         *********************



    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
