SPACEWARN Bulletin Number 465

SPACEWARN Activities

A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates.

1992-044A (22049) Geotail       Jul 24  1992-041A (22027) INSAT-2A      Jul 09
     043A (22041) Gorizont 26   Jul 14       040A (22017) Cosmos 2196   Jul 08
     042A (22034) Cosmos 2197   Jul 13       039A (22014) USA 83        Jul 07
     042B (22035) Cosmos 2198   Jul 13       038A (22012) SAMPEX        Jul 03
     042C (22036) Cosmos 2199   Jul 13       037A (22009) USA 82        Jul 02
     042D (22037) Cosmos 2200   Jul 13       036A (22006) Cosmos 2195   Jul 01
     042E (22038) Cosmos 2201   Jul 13       035A (22004) Progress M13  Jun 30
     042F (22039) Cosmos 2202   Jul 13       034A (22000) STS 50        Jun 25
     041B (22028) EUTELSAT 2 F4 Jul 09

B. Text of Launch Announcements.

1992-044A

Geotail, a Japanese research spacecraft, was launched by a Delta booster rocket from Cape Canaveral. It is part of an international fleet of spacecraft under the ISTP program for a better understanding of the Sun-Earth relationship. Geotail will be frequently maneuvered to cover different regions of the Magnetotail with apogees varying from about 60 to 250 Earth radii. It carries two ISAS, two NASA, and three ISAS/NASA instruments for measuring magnetic field, plasma, and energetic particles. Initial parameters of the first orbit are: period 14,347 min, apogee 377,300 km, perigee 1126 km, and inclination 28.3 deg.

1992-043A

Gorizont 26, a C.I.S geostationary communications spacecraft, was launched from Baykonur Cosmodrome by a Proton booster rocket. Initial orbital parameters are: period 1476 min, apogee 36659 km, perigee 36478 km, and inclination 1.5 deg.

1992-042F, -042E, -042D, -042C, -042B, -042A

Cosmos 2202, 2201, 2200, 2199, 2198, and 2197 were launched by the C.I.S from Plesetsk Cosmodrome by a single Tsiklon booster rocket. Their initial orbital parameters are: period 114.3 min, apogee 1442 km, perigee 1442 km, and inclination 82.6 deg.

1992-041B

Eutelsat 2 F-4, a French communications geostationary spacecraft, was launched by an Ariane booster from Kourou, French Guiana. Initial orbital parameters are: period 1428.5 min, apogee 35800 km, perigee 35473 km, and inclination 0.1 deg.

1992-041A

INSAT 2A, an Indian communications geostationary spacecraft, was launched by an Ariane booster from Kourou, French Guiana. Initial orbital parameters are: period 1428.6 min, apogee 35800 km, perigee 35480 km, and inclination 0.1 deg.

1992-040A

Cosmos 2196, a C.I.S spacecraft, was launched from Plesetsk by a Molniya booster. Initial orbital parameters are: period 707 min, apogee 39235 km, perigee 608 km, and inclination 62.8 deg.

1992-039A

USA 83, a U.S. spacecraft, was launched. Initial orbital parameters are: period 358 min, apogee 20464 km, perigee 187 km, and inclination 34.8 deg.

1992-038A

SAMPEX, a U.S. research spacecraft, was launched from Vandenberg AFB by a Scout rocket. It is the first of the Small Explorer (SMEX) fleet. It carries four cosmic ray monitoring instruments, and the data will be time-continuous. Initial orbital parameters are: period 96.7 min, apogee 687 km, perigee 512 km, and inclination 81.7 deg.

1992-037A

USA 82 was launched.

1992-036A

Cosmos 2195, a C.I.S spacecraft, was launched by a Cosmos rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Initial orbital parameters are: period 104.8 min, apogee 1023 km, perigee 975 km, and inclination 82.9 deg.

1992-035A

Progress M-13, an automatic cargo ship, was launched by the C.I.S to supply cargo to the MIR space station. Initial orbital parameters are: period 88.5 min, apogee 244 km, perigee 189 km, and inclination 51.6 deg.

1992-034A

STS 50 was launched by the U.S. from Cape Canaveral. It is carrying a microgravity laboratory. Initial orbital parameters are: period 90.5 min, apogee 309 km, perigee 294 km, and inclination 28.4 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. 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.)

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

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
   
   1979-017A (11278)     SOLWIND          Jul 21
   1992-043B (22042)     RB/GOROZONT 26   Jul 17
   1992-028A (21968)     SROSS 3          Jul 14
   1992-034A (22000)     STS 50 (landed)  Jul 09
   1992-033A (21998)     RESURS F 15      Jul 09
   1992-035B (22005)     RB/PROGRESS M-13 Jul 02
   1984-005C (14665)     RB(2)/YURI 2A    Jun 30
   1992-022A (21946)     PROGRESS M-12    Jun 27
   1991-021B (21191)     RB/COSMOS 2137   Jun 27
   1992-028B (21967)     RB/SROSS 3       Jun 24
   1982-023A (13107)     MOLNIYA 3-18     Jun 23
   1981-057D             RB/METEOSAT 2    Jun 23
   
   

   (Note the revised USSPACECOM catalog numbers and the re-entry dates for SROSS 3 and its rocket body. SROSS 3 is also known as SROSS C.)

D. Launching Reports and Updated Information.

Due to budgetary constraints, reports on future launches are not included.

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: 12 April 1999, EVB II