Re: [amsat-bb] GSFC keps: Names/cat num/inter. ID

[Richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Richard W L Limebear)]

Gang

The separation between the objects is only just about visible by means of
tracking (remember: with relatively wide beamwidth antennas plus propagation).

Taking Randy's last set of elements we first have to calculate to give the
figures for the same ascending node (thats the northbound equator crossing
for the uninitiated). NB I'm just using the "names" for reference; there's
no guarantee that these elements actually *are* for the item with that name.
I've kept the decimals to three places; not in college now and it will be
near enough to spot the trend.

Using Mean Motion, we get the following periods (in minutes:seconds)

object       Mean        Period      Period
name        Motion       seconds     minutes
JAWSAT    14.34302199   6023.835   100:23.835
OCS       14.34191568   6024.300   100:24.300
OPAL      14.34143453   6024.501   100:24.501
FALCONSAT 14.33909659   6025.484   100:25.484
ASUSAT    14.34064717   6024.833   100:24.833
MINOTAUR  14.34857612   6021.503   100:21.503

Randy's element set gave the following ascending nodes:
 sat          epoc        time utc    seconds since midnight
JAWSAT   00032.89236850   21:25:00.6        77100.6
OCS      00032.47480290   11:23:42.97       41022.97
OPAL     00032.89341112   21:26:30.7        77190.7
FALCONS  00032.05659032   01:21:29.4         4889.4
ASUSAT   00032.82355078   19:45:54.8        71154.8
MINOTAUR 00032.05334482   01:16:48.99        4608.99

Add or subtract (orbits x period) to hit the same orbit number (say 11:20 utc)
and we get the following ascending node times:
JAWSAT   11:22:37.59     40957.59    2 (order in which the convoy)
OCS      11:23:42.97     41022.97    3    (passed the equator)
OPAL     11:24:03.69     41043.69    6
FALCONS  11:24:02.30     41042.30    5
ASUSAT   11:23:50.64     41030.64    4
MINOTAUR 11:18:58.01     40738.01    1

Not counting the (dead) booster, we have an 86 second difference between
the first and the last. These babies are splitting up fast, the spread was
about 20-30 seconds after a couple of days. We can also see that the booster
fired the birds backwards and the reason its out in front is that it got 
five kicks from the separations. 

Someone has the order of deployment; perhaps they could compare it with
the reported names of these objects and see if it matches up. Theres also
some dependency on the strength of the separation springs.

73
Richard W L Limebear G3RWL
g3rwl@amsat.org
FOC # 1188

          So many beautiful girls ..... (sob) so little time
----
Via the amsat-bb mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org