SPACEWARN Bulletin Number 475

SPACEWARN Activities

A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates.

1993-034A (22666) Progress M-18 May 22 1993 -030C (22648) Cosmos 2247  May 11
    -033A (22663) RESURS F-2    May 21      -030B (22647) Cosmos 2246  May 11
    -032A (22657) USA 91        May 13      -030A (22646) Cosmos 2245  May 11
    -031B (22654) ARASENE       May 12      -029A (22643) Cosmos 2244  Apr 28
    -031A (22653) ASTRA 1-C     May 12      -028A (22641) Cosmos 2243  Apr 27
    -030F (22651) Cosmos 2250   May 11      -027A (22640) STS 55       Apr 26
    -030E (22650) Cosmos 2249   May 11      -026A (22638) ALEXIS       Apr 25
    -030D (22649) Cosmos 2248   May 11

B. Text of Launch Announcements.

1993-034A

Progress M-18, a C.I.S. automatic cargo craft, was launched from Baykonur cosmodrome to supply instruments and other supplies to MIR space station. Initial orbital parameters are period 88.7 min, apogee 258 km, perigee 194 km, and inclination 51.6 deg.

1993-033A

RESURS F-2, a C.I.S. natural resources spacecraft, was launched from Plesetsk cosmodrome by a Soyuz booster at 10:15 UT. It carried spectro-photometers. Initial orbital parameters are period 88.9 min, apogee 285 km, perigee 194 km, and inclination 82.6 deg.

1993-032A

USA 91, a U.S.A. spacecraft in the GPS fleet, was launched by a Delta rocket from Vandenberg AFB. It replaces the oldest of the GPS constellation, NAVSTAR 8, which was deactivated. The current total of GPS spacecraft is 23. Initial orbital parameters are period 356 min, apogee 20,334 km, perigee 175 km, and inclination 34.9 deg.

1993-031B

ARASENE, a French amateur radio relay spacecraft, was launched by an Ariane 4 rocket from French Guiana Space Center. It was built by university students. Two of the three VHF relays are functioning normally. Initial orbital parameters are period 637 min, apogee 36,075 km, perigee 223 km, and inclination 5 deg.

1993-031A

ASTRA 1-C, a Luxembourg geostationary communications spacecraft, was launched by an Ariane 4 rocket from French Guiana Space Center. It is to join its two predecessors, 1-A and 1-B, at 19.2 deg longitude. It has a capacity of 16 transponders that cater for 48 channels, all to become operational by August 1993.

1993-030F, -030E, -030D, -030C, -030B, -030A

Cosmos 2250, Cosmos 2249, Cosmos 2248, Cosmos 2247, Cosmos 2246, and Cosmos 2245, six C.I.S. spacecraft, were launched by a Tsiklon rocket. Approximate initial orbital parameters of the constellation are period 114 min, apogee 1,400 km, perigee 1,400 km, and inclination 82.6 deg.

1993-029A

Cosmos 2244, a C.I.S. spacecraft, was launched by a Soyuz rocket from Baykonur cosmodrome. Initial orbital parameters are period 89 min, apogee 274.4 min, perigee 204.4 km, and inclination 70.4 deg.

1993-028A

Cosmos 2243, a C.I.S. spacecraft, was launched by a Soyuz rocket from Baykonur cosmodrome. Official response is unavailable at this time on reports that soon after launch the spacecraft broke up into 170 pieces, the largest of which re-entered over the Indian Ocean.

1993-027A

STS 55, a U.S.A. shuttle spacecraft, was launched. It carried a German-sponsored Spacelab D-2 for experiments in material science, life science, and technology, and for observations of Earth and celestial objects. Initial orbital parameters are period 90.5 min, apogee 306 km, perigee 298 km, and inclination 28.4 km.

1993-026A

ALEXIS, a U.S.A. spacecraft, was launched by a Pegasus rocket from off the coast near Edwards AFB. As of this time, it has not been possible to establish communications with the spacecraft. It carried an array of low-energy x-ray imaging sensors. Orbital parameters are not available.

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          Common Name               1993
   1993-034B (22667)    R/B PROGRESS M-18        25 May
   1993-033B (22664)    R/B RESURS F-2           24 May
   1977-054A (10092)    MOLNIYA 1-37             20 May
   1993-022B (22595)    R/B COSMOS 2241          10 May
   1993-028A (22641)    COSMOS 2243              06 May
   1993-027A (22640)    STS 55 (landed)          06 May
   1977-061A (10134)    COSMOS 925               29 Apr
   1993-029B (22644)    R/B COSMOS 2244          28 Apr
   1993-028B (22642)    R/B COSMOS 2243          27 Apr
   
   

   The following are presumed by USSPACECOM to have decayed. Dates are unknown.

   Designations          Common Name               1993
   1970-027A (04366)     NO NAME
   1970-027B (04368)     R/B NO NAME
   1980-103A (12116)     PROGNOZ 8
   1985-033A (15661)     PROGNOZ 10
   
   

4. Miscellaneous Items. (This section contains information/data that are entered on occasion and may not be repeated in each issue of the SPACEWARN Bulletin.)

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