SPACEWARN Bulletin Number 466

A publication of NASA's National Space Science Data Center/World Data Center-A for Rockets and Satellites on behalf of IUWDS/COSPAR

August 25, 1992

SPACEWARN Activities

All information in this publication was received between July 25, 1992, and August 24, 1992.

A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates.

USSPACECOM Catalog numbers are in parentheses.

1992-056A (22093) RESURS F-16      Aug 19 1992-050A (22068) Molniya 1-84  Aug 06
     055A (22090) Progress M-14    Aug 15      049B (22065) EURECA-1      Jul 31
     054A (22087) AUSSAT B-1       Aug 13      049A (22064) STS 46        Jul 31
     053A (22080) Cosmos 2208      Aug 12      048A (22062) Cosmos 2207   Jul 30
     052C (22078) S 80/T           Aug 10      047C (22058) Cosmos 2206   Jul 30
     052B (22077) KITSAT-A/URIBYOL Aug 10      047B (22057) Cosmos 2205   Jul 30
     052A (22076) TOPEX-POSEIDON   Aug 10      047A (22056) Cosmos 2204   Jul 30
     051A (22072) PRC 35           Aug 09      046A (22054) Soyuz TM-15   Jul 27
                                               045A (22052) Cosmos 2203   Jul 24

B. Text of Launch Announcements.

1992-056A: RESURS F-16, a C.I.S. remote sensing spacecraft, was launched from Plesetsk cosmodroCme by a Soyuz rocket. Initial orbital parameters are: period 88.7 min, apogee 258 km, perigee 193 km, and inclination 82.6 deg.
1992-055A: Progress M-14, a C.I.S. cargo spacecraft, was launched from Baykonur launch site, to deliver supplies to the manned MIR space station. It docked with MIR on August 18. It carried a capsule for returning research output materials from MIR. Initial orbital parameters are: period 88.6 min, apogee 251 km, perigee 191 km, and inclination 51.6 deg.
1992-054A: AUSSAT B-1 (also known as OPTUS B-1), an Australian communications spacecraft, was launched from Xichang site by a Long March 2-E rocket. Initial, pre-geostationary orbital parameters are: period 802 min; apogee 37,299 km; perigee 7134 km; and inclination 10.7 deg.
1992-053A: Cosmos 2208, a C.I.S. spacecraft, was launched from Plesetsk cosmodrome. Initial orbital parameters are: period 101 min, apogee 826 km, perigee 790 km, and inclination 74.1 deg.
1992-052C: S 80/T, a French technology spacecraft, was launched from Kourou in French Guiana by an Ariane booster. Initial orbital parameters are period 120 min, apogee 1338 km, perigee 1315 km, and inclination 66 deg.
1992-052B: KITSAT-A, also known as URIBYOL (meaning "our star"), a South Korean spacecraft, was launched from Kourou in French Guiana by an Ariane booster. It carried an electronic mail system, an Earth-picture camera, and a device to measure cosmic rays. Initial orbital parameters are: period 112 min, apogee 1328 km, perigee 1316 km, and inclination 66 deg.
1992-052A: TOPEX-POSEIDON, a French-U.S.A. spacecraft, was launched from Kourou, French Guiana, by an Ariane booster. It carried instruments to study ocean levels and currents. Initial orbital parameters are: period 112 min, apogee 1341 km, perigee 1322 km, and inclination 66.5 deg.
1992-051A: PRC 35, a Chinese experimental, retrievable spacecraft, was launched from Jiuquan launch center by a Long March 2-D booster. It carried instruments for microgravity research. Initial orbital parameters are: period 90 min, apogee 354 km, perigee 173 km, and inclination 63 deg.
1992-050A: Molniya 1-84, a C.I.S. communications spacecraft, was launched from Plesetck cosmodrome by a Molniya booster rocket. Initial orbital parameters are: period 12 hr, 17 min; apogee 40,603; perigee 636 km; and inclination 63.6 deg.
1992-049B: EURECA-1, a European research spacecraft, was released from the shuttle STS 46 on August 2, 1992. It carried material for micro- gravity experiments on organisms and an X-ray astronomy instrument. Initial orbital parameters are: period 93.4 min, apogee 447 km, perigee 438 km, and inclination 28.5 deg.
1992-049A: STS 46, a manned U.S.A. shuttle, was launched from Cape Canaveral. It released a European spacecraft on August 2, 1992. Attempts by the crew to deploy an Italian tethered probe, TSS-1, failed. Initial orbital parameters of STS 46 are: period 90.6 min, apogee 306 km, perigee 299 km, and inclination 28.5 deg.
1992-048A: Cosmos 2207, a C.I.S. spacecraft, was launched from Plesetsk cosmodrome by a Soyuz booster. Initial orbital parameters are: period 82.3 min, apogee 313 km, perigee 228 km, and inclination 89.9 km.
1992-047A, -047B, -047C: Cosmos 2204, 2205, and 2206 were launched from Baykonur cosmodrome by a Proton booster. Their initial orbital parameters are: period 11 hr, 15 min; apogee 19,135; perigee 19,125.
1992-046A: Soyuz TM-15, a C.I.S. spacecraft, was launched from Baykonur cosmodrome on its way to dock with MIR station. It carried one French and two Russian cosmonauts. Initial orbital parameters are: period 88.6 min, apogee 233 km, perigee 200 km, and inclination 51.6 deg.
1992-045A: Cosmos 2203, a C.I.S. spacecraft, was launched. Initial orbital parameters are period 89.5 min, apogee 326 km, perigee 173 km, and inclination 62.8 deg.

C. Spacecraft Particularly Suited for International Participation

Category I

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

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

Designations          National Name         1992

1992-055B (22091)     RB/PROGRESS M-14      Aug 18
1992-055B (22073)     RB/PRC 35             Aug 16
1992-040B (22018)     RB/COSMOS 2196        Aug 15
1992-048A (22062)     COSMOS 2207           Aug 13
1992-014A (21908)     SOYUZ TM-14 (landed)  Aug 10
1992-049A (22064)     STS 46 (landed)       Aug 08
1992-048B (22063)     RB/COSMOS 2207        Aug 01
1992-045B (22053)     RB/COSMOS 2203        Aug 01
1992-047D (22059)     RB/COSMOS 2204-2206   Jul 30
1992-046B (22055)     RB/SOYUZ TM-15        Jul 29
1992-035A (22004)     PROGRESS M-13         Jul 24
1992-029A (21973)     COSMOS 2186           Jul 24

D. Launching Reports and Updated Information.

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

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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

Page Curator:
Dr. Edwin V. Bell, II, ed.bell@gsfc.nasa.gov, +1-301-286-1187
NSSDC, Mail Code 633, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771