SPACEWARN BULLETIN SPX-452 JUNE 25, 1991 SPACEWARN Activities -------------------- (All information in this publication was received between May 24 and June 24, 1991.) A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates. (HQ USSPACECOM Catalog numbers are in parentheses.) 1991-043A (21426) MOLNIYA 1-81 Jun 18 1991-039A (21397) OKEAN-3 Jun 4 1986-017DV (21425) MAK-1 Feb 19 038A (21395) PROGRESS M-8 May 30 1991-042A (21422) COSMOS 2151 Jun 13 037A (21392) AURORA II May 29 041A (21418) COSMOS 2150 Jun 11 036A (21315) COSMOS 2149 May 24 040A (21399) STS-40 Jun 5 B. Text of Launching Announcements. 1986-017DV MAK-1 was deployed from the orbiting space station MIR on June 17, 1991. 1991-043A MOLNIYA 1-81, a communications satellite, was launched on June 18, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a MOLNIYA booster rocket. The satellite has been placed in a highly elliptical orbit with the following initial orbital parameters: period 12 hr 16 min, apogee 40,825 km in the northern hemisphere, perigee 457 km in the southern hemisphere, inclination 62.8 deg. 1991-042A COSMOS 2151 was launched on June 13, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a TSIKLON rocket booster. Initial orbital parameters: period 97.8 min, apogee 676 km, perigee 648 km, inclination 82.5 deg. 1991-041A COSMOS 2150 was launched on June 11, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a COSMOS rocket booster. Initial orbital parameters: period 100.8 min, apogee 823 km, perigee 785 km, inclination 74 deg. 1991-040A STS-40, the space shuttle COLUMBIA was launched on June 5, 1991, by the U.S. to conduct space biology research. Initial orbital parameters: period 90.1 min, apogee 302 km, perigee 276 km, inclination 39.0 deg. COLUMBIA landed in California on June 15, 1991. 1991-039A OKEAN-3 was launched on June 4, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. utilizing the TSIKLON booster rocket. Initial orbital parameters: period 97.8 min, apogee 679 km, perigee 652 km, inclination 82.5 deg. The main mission of the spacecraft is to obtain oceanographic and polar region ice information and data. 1991-038A PROGRESS M-8 was launched on May 30, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. to deliver expendable material and other cargo to the space station MIR. Initial orbital parameters: period 88.6 min, apogee 249 km, perigee 191 km, inclination 51.6 deg. Docked with the space station MIR on June 1, 1991. 1991-037A AURORA II, a communications satellite, was launched on May 29, 1991, by the U.S. using a DELTA booster rocket. Initial orbital parameters: period 1400.4 min, apogee 35,509 km, perigee 34,660 km, inclination 0.2 deg. 1991-036A COSMOS 2149 was launched on May 24, 1991, by the U.S.S.R. using a SOYUZ rocket booster. Initial orbital parameters: period 89.7 min, apogee 377 km, perigee 176 km, inclination 67.2 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; brackets indicate updated information since the last issue. Spacewarn would appreciate suggestions to update this list.) Designation, 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 would 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 ----------------------------------------- Expected Decay Dates 1991 ------------------------- NOT AVAILABLE 5. Actual Decays. Actual Decay Dates 1991 ----------------------- 1965-082CK May 30 1982-118D Jun 6 1965-082DV Jun 18 1983-022C May 21 1969-082JH May 18 1983-081C May 25 1970-089BP May 20 1986-017DB Jun 15 1974-066A (COSMOS 673) Jun 1 1986-017DC Jun 7 1975-052DM Jun 5 1986-017DF Jun 9 1975-099A (TIP 2) May 26 1986-017DG Jun 7 1978-026DD May 29 1986-019BG May 18 1978-026GV May 26 1986-019PN Jun 15 1981-017B May 26 1986-019TP May 28 1987-078C Jun 21 1991-023A (COSMOS 2138) May 24 1990-088C Jun 18 1991-035A (RESURS F-10) Jun 20 1990-104W May 19 1991-035B May 23 1990-105F Jun 2 1991-035E Jun 23 1990-105W May 19 1991-036B May 27 1990-107A (SOYUZ TM-11) May 26 1991-038B May 31 1990-113A (COSMOS 2113) Jun 11 1991-040A (STS-40) Jun 14 1991-005C May 30 D. Launching Reports and Updated Information. 1. Updated Information 1990-107A (20981) SOYUZ TM-11 The spacecraft's descent vehicle with the Soviet and British astronaut landed in Kazakhstan, U.S.S.R. on May 26, 1991.