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


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.
