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.
                                                ----------------------
