SPACEWARN Bulletin Number 468

SPACEWARN Activities

A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates.

1992-070B (22195) LAGEOS-2      Oct 22 1992-068A (22182) Cosmos 2211   Oct 20
     070A (22194) STS 52        Oct 22      067A (22178) Molniya 3-42  Oct 14
     069A (22189) Cosmos 2217   Oct 21      066A (22175) DFS 3         Oct 12
     068F (22187) Cosmos 2216   Oct 20      065A (22173) Foton 5       Oct 08
     068E (22186) Cosmos 2215   Oct 20      064B (22162) PRC 36        Oct 06
     068D (22185) Cosmos 2214   Oct 20      064A (22161) Freja         Oct 06
     068C (22184) Cosmos 2213   Oct 20      063A (22136) Mars Observer Sep 25
     068B (22183) Cosmos 2212   Oct 20

B. Text of Launch Announcements.

1992-070B

LAGEOS-2 is a passive Italian spacecraft with a 60 centimeter diameter and 400 kg mass;it is covered by 426 laser beam reflectors. It was released from STS 52, to be positioned eventually into a circular orbit of 5800 km altitude.

1992-070A

STS 52, a U.S.A. space shuttle, was launched from Cape Canaveral, FL. It carried several microgravity experimental packages; among them were the growth of cadmium telluride crystals from vapor phase, growth of protein/enzyme crystals, and a number of high school experiments such as the clotting action of snake venom on blood plasma proteins, germination of Florida's official flower seeds, and microgravity effect on dry mustard seeds that will be germinated after return. Also on-board were six rats that had been given anti-osteoporotic treatment with an experimental drug. Initial orbital parameters are: period 90.5 min, perigee/apogee 296 km, and inclination 28.5 deg.

1992-069A

Cosmos 2217, a C.I.S spacecraft, was launched from Plesetsk cosmo- drome by a Molniya rocket. Initial orbital parameters are: period 708 min, apogee 39400 km, perigee 600 km, and inclination 62.8 deg.

1992-068F, -068E, -068D, -068C, -068B, and -068A.

Cosmos 2216, 2215, 2214, 2213, 2212, and 2211-the six C.I.S spacecraft-were launched from Plesetsk cosmodrome by a single Tsiklon rocket. Initial orbital parameters for all of them are: period 114.3 min, apogee 1449 km, perigee 1416 km, and inclination 82.6 deg.

1992-067A

Molniya 3-42, a C.I.S communications spacecraft, was launched from Plesetsk cosmodrome by a Molniya rocket. Initial orbital parameters are: period 737 min, apogee 40854 km, perigee 561 km, and inclination 62.8 deg.

1992-66A

DFS 3, a German geostationary communications spacecraft, was launched from Cape Canaveral, FL, by a Delta 2/7925 rocket. It has 10 carrier frequencies.

1992-65A

Foton 5, a C.I.S spacecraft, was launched. The initial orbital parameters are: period 90 min, apogee 372 km, perigee 225 km, and inclination 62.8 km.

1992-64B

PRC 36, a People's Republic of China spacecraft, was launched from Jiuquan Center by a Long March rocket.It is a retrievable spacecraft. Initial orbital parameters are: period 89.7 min, apogee 318 km, perigee 211 km, and inclination 63 deg.

1992-064A

Freja, a Swedish space research spacecraft, was launched from Jiuquan Center by a Long March rocket. Initial orbital parameters are: period 109 min, apogee 1769 km, perigee 619 km, and inclination 63 deg. It carried a complement of scientific instruments for measuring electric currents and precipitating energetic particles in the auroral region.

1992-063A

Mars Observer, a U.S.A spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral, by a Titan 3 rocket. It was on travel to orbit around Mars, and carried a magnetometer, a gamma ray spectrometer, an electron reflectometer, a laser altimeter, and a high-resolution camera.

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

   Designations          National Name             1992
   
   1992-065A (22173)     FOTON 5                  24 Oct
   1980-002A (11662)     MOLNIYA 1-46             22 Oct
   1992-065B (22174)     RB/FOTON 5               22 Oct
   1992-055A (22090)     PROGRESS M 14 (landed)   21 Oct
   1992-064C (22163)     RB/PRC 36                20 Oct
   1981-030A (12368)     MOLNIYA 3-15             19 Oct
   1991-024A (21213)     ALMAZ 1                  17 Oct
   1992-031B (21988)     RB/EUVE                  16 Oct
   1982-074A (13383)     MOLNIYA 1-55             08 Oct
   1992-063B (22137)     RB/MARS OBSERVER         01 Oct
   1990-103C (20961)     RB/USA 66                30 Sep
   1973-080B ( 6908)     RB/COSMOS 604            30 Sep
   1992-062B (22134)     RB/COSMOS 2210           26 Sep
   1979-048A (11384)     MOLNIYA 3-12             26 Sep
   1992-056C (22099)     PION 1                   25 Sep
   1992-056D (22100)     PION 2                   24 Sep
   1992-050B (22069)     RB/MOLNIYA 1-84          20 Sep
   
   

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: 23 May 1995, EVB II