SPACEWARN Bulletin Number 461

SPACEWARN Activities

A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates.

1992-014A (21908) Soyuz TM-14  Mar 17    1992-011A (21897) Molniya 1-83   Mar  4
     013A (21906) Galaxy 5     Mar 14         010B (21894) ARABSAT-1C     Feb 26
     012A (21902) Cosmos 2181  Mar  9         010A (21893) SPRBIRD-B1     Feb 26

B. Text of Launch Announcements.

1992-014A

Soyuz TM-14 was launched by the C.I.S from Baykonur cosmodrome, with three cosmonauts on board, and docked with the MIR station on March 19, 1992. They will conduct zero-gravity biological experiments.

1992-013A

Galaxy 5, a commercial communications spacecraft, was launched by the U.S.A. from Cape Canavaral by an Atlas rocket. It carries 24 C-band transponders. Initial orbital parameters are: period 653.9 min, apogee 36135 km, perigee 1092 km, and inclination 19.6 deg.

1992-012A

Cosmos 2181, a navigational satellite of the TSIKADA program, was launched by the C.I.S from Plesetsk cosmodrome. Initial orbital parameters are: period 105 min, apogee 1,027 km, perigee 994 km, and inclination 82.9 deg.

1992-011A

Molniya 1-83, a communications satellite, was launched on March 4, 1992 by the C.I.S. using a Molniya booster rocket. The satellite has been placed in a highly elliptical orbit with the following initial orbital parameters are: period 11 hr 42 min, apogee 38,998 km in the Northern Hemisphere, perigee 629 km in the Southern Hemisphere, and inclination 62.9 deg.

1992-010B

ARABSAT-1C, a Saudi Arabian communications satellite, was launched on February 26, 1992 utilizing the same launch vehicle that launched SPRBIRD-B1. Initial orbital parameters are: period 632.4 min, apogee 35,832 km, perigee 222 km, and inclination 7.0 deg.

1992-010A

SPRBIRD-B1, a Japanese communications satellite, was launched on February 26, 1992 using the Ariane-44L launch vehicle from the Kourou Space Center, French Guiana. Initial orbital parameters are: period 631.3 min, apogee 35,776 km, perigee 222 km, and inclination 7.0 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. To see a list select here.

2. Global Positioning System satellites useful for navigational purposes and geodetic studies. To see a list select here.

3. Satellites useful for simultaneous observation programs with small cameras; and for gravitational and atmospheric studies. (* indicates updated information since the last issue. The magnitude is an approximation; it assumes 75% illumination of the satellite and 900 km range. SPACEWARN would appreciate suggestions to update this list.) To see a list select here.

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.)

   Due to budgetary constraints, this category has not been listed.

5. Actual decays/landings of payload spacecraft and rocket bodies (R/B) only. Additional information is not available.

   Designations       National Name 1992    Designations       National Name 1992
   
   1961-RHO 3 (00166)               Mar  2  1986-019BV (17223)               Mar 16
   1963-047B  (00696) ATLAS/CENTAUR Mar 20  1988-006C  (18846)               Mar 12
   1970-025PB (17169)               Feb 28  1989-062D  (20171)               Mar  8
   1972-058FS (08497)               Mar 16  1990-043G  (20613)               Mar  1
   1975-004AS (08960)               Mar  8  1990-058A  (20683) GAMMA         Feb 28
   1975-052DQ (21432)               Mar  3  1991-046F  (21541)               Feb 26
   1976-085B  (09390) COSMOS 851 RB Mar 22  1991-049A  (21560) COSMOS 2153   Mar 13
   1977-015A  (09853) COSMOS 895    Mar 22  1991-072B  (21744)               Mar 14
   1978-024A  (10696) MOLNYA 1-39   Mar  9  1992-001A  (21844) COSMOS 2175   Mar 20
   1980-051A  (11848) METEOR 1-30   Mar  1  1992-004A  (21851) PROGRSS M-11  Mar 13
   1986-017FK (21810)               Feb 28  1992-011C  (21899) MOLNYA PLTFOM Mar 19
   1986-017FV (21883)               Feb 25  1992-014B  (21909) SOYUZ TM14 RB Mar 19
   
   

D. Launching Reports and Updated Information.

1. Update information.

   1992-009A (21890) USA-79

   Initial orbital parameters are: period 714.7, apogee 20,318 km, perigee 19,913 km, and inclination 54.7 deg

Questions/comments about the content of these pages should be directed to: The World Warning Agency for Satellites, wwas@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov National Space Science Data Center, Mail Code 633 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771

NASA Official: J. H. King, joe.king@gsfc.nasa.gov
Last updated: 24 May 1995, EVB II