	SPX-453	JULY 25, 1991


                              SPACEWARN Activities
              (All information in this publication was received between
                          June 25 and July 24, 1991.)


A.  List of New International Designations and Launch Dates.  (HQ USSPACECOM 
Catalog numbers are in parentheses.)

1991-052A (21611) RESURS-F12   Jul 23      1991-050C (21576) ORBCOMM-X    Jul 17
     051G (21586) MICROSAT-7   Jul 17           050B (21575) UOSAT-F      Jul 17
     051F (21585) MICROSAT-6   Jul 17           050A (21574) ERS-1        Jul 17
     051E (21584) MICROSAT-5   Jul 17           049A (21560) COSMOS 2153  Jul 10
     051D (21583) MICROSAT-4   Jul 17           048A (21558) COSMOS 2152  Jul 10
     051C (21582) MICROSAT-3   Jul 17           047B (21553) LOSAT-X      Jul  4
     051B (21581) MICROSAT-2   Jul 17           047A (21552) USA-71       Jul  4
     051A (21580) MICROSAT-1   Jul 17           046A (21533) GORIZONT 23  Jul  1
     050E (21578) SARA         Jul 17           045A (21527) REX          Jun 29
     050D (21577) TUBSAT       Jul 17           044A (21524) RESURS-F11   Jun 28


B.  Text of Launching Announcements.

1991-052A  RESURS-F12 was launched on July 23, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using the
           SOYUZ rocket booster.  On board is equipment to continue the research
           of the Earth's natural resources.  Initial orbital parameters: period
           88.7 min, apogee 261 km, perigee 195 km, inclination 82.3 deg.

1991-051G  MICROSAT-7
     051F  MICROSAT-6
     051E  MICROSAT-5
     051D  MICROSAT-4
     051C  MICROSAT-3
     051B  MICROSAT-2
     051A  MICROSAT-1 were launched on July 17, 1991.

1991-050E  SARA was launched on July 17, 1991, by the same ARIANE rocket booster
           that launched ERS-1.

1991-050D  TUBSAT was launched on July 17, 1991, by the same ARIANE rocket
           booster that launched ERS-1.

1991-050C  ORBCOMM-X was launched on July 17, 1991, by the same ARIANE rocket
           booster that launched ERS-1.

1991-050B  UOSAT-F was launched on July 17, 1991, by the same ARIANE rocket
           booster that launched ERS-1.

1991-050A  ERS-1, a low Earth-orbiting, Sun-synchronous satellite supported by
           the multimission platform which carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar
           (SAR), a radar serving as Wind Scatterometer (WS), a Radar Altimeter
           (RA), an Along Track Scanning Radiometer and microwave sounder
           (ATSR), and a Precise Range and Range Rate Equipment (PRARE), was
           launched on July 17, 1991, from the Kourou Space Center, French
           Guiana, using the ARIANE rocket booster and placed into a near-
           circular polar orbit.

1991-049A  COSMOS 2153 was launched on July 10, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using the
           SOYUZ rocket booster.  Initial orbital parameters: period 89.0 min,
           apogee 292 km, perigee 192 km, inclination 64.9 deg.

1991-048A  COSMOS 2152 was launched on July 10, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using the
           SOYUZ rocket booster.  Initial orbital parameters: period 88.7 min,
           apogee 266 km, perigee 188 km, inclination 82.3 deg.

1991-047B  LOSAT-X was launched on July 4, 1991, by the United States.  Initial
           orbital parameters: period 92.8 min, apogee 416 km, perigee 402 km,
           inclination 40.0 deg.

1991-047A  USA-71 was launched on July 4, 1991, by the United States.  Initial
           orbital parameters: period 704.6 min, apogee 20,250 km, perigee
           19,451 km, inclination 55.3 deg.

1991-046A  GORIZONT 23, a communications satellite, was launched on July 1,
           1991, by the U.S.S.R. utilizing the PROTON rocket booster.  The
           satellite has been placed in a near-circular orbit.  Initial orbital
           parameters: period 23 hr 50 min, distance from the Earth's surface
           35,672 km, inclination 1.4 deg.

1991-045A  REX, a U.S. Air Force radiation experiment satellite, was launched on
           June 29, 1991, using a SCOUT rocket booster. Initial orbital 
           parameters: period 101.3 min, apogee 871 km, perigee 770 km, 
           inclination 89.6 deg.

1991-044A  RESURS-F11 was launched on June 28, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using the
           SOYUZ rocket booster.  On board is equipment to continue research
           of the Earth's natural resources.  Initial orbital parameters: period
           88.8 min, apogee 269 km, perigee 192 km, inclination 82.3 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;
those bracketed 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 on
ATS 1            137.35 MHz                 ~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.  (Also known as
OSCAR (NAV) 20   150 MHz at 0.75 W          NNSS 30200)
                 400 MHz at 1.25 W
                 Inclination: 89.9 deg
1975-100A        [June 29,1991]
GOES 1           136.38 MHz  
                 [Location: 81.2 deg W]
                 [Inclination: 10.5 deg]
1977-048A        [June 27, 1991]
GOES 2           136.38 MHz
                 [Location: 59.6 deg W]
                 [Inclination: 9.0 deg]
1978-012A        [June 19, 1991]
IUE              136.86 MHz
                 [Inclination: 32.890 deg]
1978-062A        [June 16, 1991]
GOES 3           136.38 MHz
                 [Location: 175.0 deg W]
                 [Inclination: 7.8 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        [May 15, 1991]              Turned on when beacon of METEOSAT 3
METEOSAT 2       137.078 MHz                is turned off and vice versa.
                 [Location: 10.2 deg W]
                 [Inclination: 4.2 deg]
1984-110A        September 15, 1988         Operational transit.  (Also known as
NOVA III         150 MHz at 3.00 W          NNSS 30500)
                 400 MHz at 5.00 W
                 Inclination: 90.0 deg
1984-114B        [June 27, 1991]
MARECS-B2        137.17 MHz
                 [Location: 55.5 deg W]
                 [Inclination: 2.2 deg]
1984-123A        [June 30, 1991]
NOAA 9           137.62 MHz
                 [Inclination: 99.168 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 2048
                 400 MHz at 2.00 W          UT, February 26, 1991.  (Also known
                 Inclination: 89.9 deg      as NNSS 30300)
1986-073A        [June 30, 1991]
NOAA 10          137.50 MHz
                 [Inclination: 98.560 deg]
[1986-086A        July 18, 1991]
[COSMOS 1791      150 MHz]
                 [400 MHz]
                 [Inclination: 82.945 deg]
1986-088A        September 15, 1988         Experimental.  (Also known as NNSS
POLAR BEAR       150 MHz at 0.75 W          30170)
                 400 MHz at 1.25 W
                 Inclination: 89.9 deg
1987-080A        December 5, 1988           Operational transit.  (Also known as
OSCAR (NAV) 27   150 MHz at 0.75 W          NNSS 30270)
                 400 MHz at 1.25 W
                 Inclination: 90.3 deg
1987-080B        February 7, 1991           Operational transit.  (Also known as
OSCAR (NAV) 29   150 MHz at 0.75 W          NNSS 30290)
                 400 MHz at 1.25 W
                 Inclination: 90.3 deg
1988-033A        January 31, 1989           Operational transit.  (Also known as
OSCAR (NAV) 23   150 MHz at 0.75 W          NNSS 30230)
                 400 MHz at 1.25 W
                 Inclination: 90.4 deg
1988-033B        February 26, 1991          Operational transit.  (Also known as
OSCAR (NAV) 32   150 MHz at 1.00 W          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.  (Also known as
NOVA II          150 MHz at 3.00 W          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.  (Also known as NNSS 
                 400 MHz at 1.25 W          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.  [(Also known as NNSS] 
                 400 MHz at 2.00 W         [30310; previous listed number 30130]
                 Inclination: 98.971 deg   [is incorrect)]
1988-089A        [June 28, 1991]
NOAA 11          136.77 MHz
                 137.77 MHz
                 [Inclination: 99.031 deg]
[1989-017A        July 18, 1991]
[COSMOS 2004      149.94 MHz]
                 [399.84 MHz]
                 [Inclination: 82.955 deg]
[1989-042A        July 18, 1991]
[COSMOS 2026      149.97 MHz]
                 [399.92 MHz]
                 [Inclination: 82.941 deg]
[1990-017A        July 18, 1991]
[NADEZHDA-2       150 MHZ]
                 [400 MHZ]
                 [Inclination: 82.955]
[1990-023A        July 19, 1991]
[COSMOS 2061      149.94 MHz]
                 [399.84 MHz]
                 [Inclination: 82.936 deg]
[1990-036A        July 19, 1991]
[COSMOS 2074      149.91 MHz]
                 [399.76 MHz]
                 [Inclination: 82.944 deg]
[1990-083A        July 18, 1991]
[COSMOS 2100      149.97 MHz]
                 [399.92 MHz]
                 [Inclination: 82.938 deg]
[1991-007A        July 18, 1991]
[COSMOS 2123      150 MHz]
                 [400 MHz]
                 [Inclination: 82.923 deg]
[1991-019A        July 18, 1991]
[NADEZHDA-3       150 MHz]
                 [400 MHz]
                 [Inclination: 82.929 deg]
[1991-029A        July 18, 1991]
[COSMOS 2142      150.03 MHz]
                 [400.08 MHz]
                 [Inclination: 82.953 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 within 60 days from June 26, 1991

                           Expected Decay Dates 1991

1965-082AU                  Aug 20	1986-017CZ                  Aug  2	
1971-015CX                  Aug  5	1986-017DM                  Aug  8	
1972-058JJ                  Jul 30	1986-017DT                  Aug 20	
1976-120AF                  Aug  2	1986-017ED                  Aug 11	
1976-120BA                  Aug 22	1990-104T                   Aug  1	
1981-028F                   Aug 13



    5. Actual decays.

                             Actual Decay Dates 1991

1960-BETA 1                 Jul  2	1990-104N                   Jul 10	
1961-OMI170                 Jul  6	1990-104P                   Jul 21	
1965-020EW                  Jul  9	1990-104Q                   Jul 14	
1969-082CB                  Jul  6	1990-104R                   Jul 20	
1970-025LH                  Jun 23	1990-104S                   Jul 21	
1975-052BT                  Jun 29	1990-104U                   Jul 15	
1981-017A     (HINOTORI)    Jul 11	1990-104V                   Jul 15	
1986-017DA                  Jun 24	1991-035C                   Jun 21	
1986-017DD                  Jun 24	1991-035D                   Jun 20	
1986-017DK                  Jul 14	1991-036A   (COSMOS 2149)   Jul  4	
1986-017DU                  Jul 11	1991-043B                   Jul  2	
1986-017EC                  Jul 12	1991-043C                   Jun 27	
1986-017EE                  Jul  6	1991-044A   (RESURS-F11)    Jul 21	
1986-019BC                  Jul  9	1991-044B                   Jun 30	
1986-019GS                  Jul 20	1991-046B                   Jul  4	
1990-104K                   Jul 15	1991-046C                   Jul  2	
1990-104L                   Jul 10	1991-048B                   Jul 10	
1990-104M                   Jul 10	1991-049B                   Jul 13	


D.  Launching Reports and Updated Information.  (This section covers only those 
reports that are sent to us directly by the national agencies.)

    1.  Prelaunch announcement.

Spacecraft Name:     Broadcasting Satellite-3B (BS-3B)

Planned Launch Date: August 16, 1991

Country:             Japan

 Orbit Type       Period          Apogee         Perigee          Weight

Geostationary   ca 23 h 56 m    ca 36,000 km   ca 36,000 km      ca 550 kg
                                                             (beginning of life)

            Geographic Longitude              Longitude Tolerance

                 110 deg e                    -+0.1 deg (e-w, s-n)
[B
              Nominal Transmitting Frequencies and Output Power

                           2276.99 MHz    2.50 w
                          11.70299 GMz    0.08 w
                          11.80420 GHz     120 w
                          11.88092 GHz     120 w
                          11 99600 GHz     120 w
                          12.64000 GHz     120 w

Probability of Survival in 7 years:       More than 0.72

Launching Organization:         National Space Development Agency of Japan

Spacecraft Mission:  a) Follow on to the BS-2 service.
                     b) Meet increasing broadcasting service demand.
                     c) Development of advanced satellite broadcasting 
                        technology.


    2.  Prelaunch announcement.

The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) is going to launch a
satellite named "SOLAR-A" at 2:30 UT, August 26, 1991, from Kagoshima Space 
Center, Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.  The main objective of this 
satellite is the observation of solar flares on the surface of the Sun which 
is now in its most active period.  The observation will be carried out at 
soft and hard X-ray wavelengths.  On board SOLAR-A are: Soft X-ray Telescope 
(SXT) through Japan-U.S. collaboration, Hard X-ray Telescope (HXT) of Japan, 
Bragg Crystal Spectrometer (BCS) through Japan-U.K. collaboration, and Wide 
Band X-ray and Gamma-ray Spectrometer(WBS) of Japan.

The planned orbital parameters as of July 5, 1991, are as follows:

Epoch                   2:38:36 UT, August 26, 1991
Semi-Major Axis         6993 km
Eccentricity            0.007264
Ascending Node          31.083 deg
Argument of Perigee     41.368 deg
Mean Anomaly            93.468 deg
Period                  96.99 min

SOLAR-A will transmit 2.2 GHz (S-band) with 0.5/0.02 watts and 8.4 GHz (X-band) 
with 0.8/0.05 watts.

The launcher is M-3SII-6, the sixth flight of M-3S rocket, which is the fifth 
generation of ISAS MU launch vehicle.

M-3SII has sent the following:
  Two Halley's comet explorers (SAKIGAKE=MS-T5, SUISEI=PLANET-A),
  One X-ray astronomy satellite (GINGA=ASTRO-C),
  One aurora observation satellite (AKEBONO=EXO'S-D), and
  One space engineering satellite (HITEN=MUSES-A).

M-3SII-6 is 1.41 in diameter, 27.785 m in total length, and its launch weight 
is 61.228 tons.
