SPACEWARN Bulletin Number 490

SPACEWARN Activities

A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates.

1994-051A (23211) Molniya 3-46  Aug 23
    -050C (23205) Cosmos 2289   Aug 11
    -050B (23204) Cosmos 2288   Aug 11
    -050A (23203) Cosmos 2287   Aug 11
    -049B (23200) TURKSAT 1-B   Aug 11
    -049A (23199) BRAZILSAT B-1 Aug 11
    -048A (23194) Cosmos 2286   Aug 05
    -047A (23192) DIRECTV 2     Aug 03
    -046A (23191) APEX          Aug 03
    -045A (23189) Cosmos 2285   Aug 02
    -044A (23187) Cosmos 2284   Jul 29

B. Text of Launch Announcements.

1994-051A

Molniya 3-46, a Russian communications spacecraft, was launched by a Molniya-M rocket from Plesetsk cosmodrome at 14:31 UT. Initial orbital parameters are period 11 hr, 41 min; apogee 39,937 km; perigee 630 km; and inclination 62.9 deg.

1994-050C, -050B, 050A

Cosmos 2289, Cosmos 2288, and Cosmos 2287, three of the Russian fleet of GLONASS series of global positioning spacecraft, were launched by a Proton-K rocket from Baykonur cosmodrome. They can determine locations with an accuracy of 100 meters. These three bring the total of the GLONASS fleet to 18 operational and one spare spacecraft; the full fleet of 24 spacecraft is expected to be operational by 1995. Initial orbital parameters of the orbit were period 11 hr, 16 min; altitude 19,138 km; and inclination 64.7 deg.

(SPACEWARN Bulletin will appreciate receiving from readers a complete list of current GLONASS spacecraft with data similar to that entered in section C-2 for the GPS fleet.)

1994-049B

TURKSAT 1-B, a Turkish geostationary communications spacecraft, was launched by an Ariane-44LP rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, at 23:05 UT into a geostationary orbit. It carries 16 Ku-band transponders.

1994-049A

BRAZILSAT B-1, a Brazilian geostationary communications spacecraft, was launched by an Ariane-44LP rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, at 23:05. It will be moved to 70-W longitude. It carries 28 C-band transponders and a military channel in X-band.

1994-048A

Cosmos 2286, a Russian military spacecraft, was launched by a Molniya booster from Plesetsk cosmodrome. Initial orbital parameters were period 11 hr, 48 min; apogee 39,400 km; perigee 613 km; and inclination 62.8 deg.

1994-047A

DIRECTV 2, also known as DBS-2, is a U.S.A. geostationary communications spacecraft that was launched by an Atlas 2-A rocket from Cape Canaveral. It has the capability to provide 150 channels of programs. It carries a time capsule named SpaceArc containing messages from the current vice-president of the U.S.A. and his predecessor; after its useful life span the spacecraft will be moved to a higher orbit so that only an explorer from a distant future generation may uncover the messages.

1994-046A

APEX (Advanced Photovoltaic and Electronic Experiments), a U.S.A. test spacecraft, was launched by a Pegasus rocket carried by a B-52 bomber from Edwards Air Force Base, California, at 11:38 UT. The 260 kg spacecraft carries three diagnostic instruments including a cosmic ray monitor to check the impact of radiation in the Van Allen belt on the other two target instruments. Initial orbital parameters are period 115 min, apogee 2,555 km, perigee 368 km, and inclination 26.9 deg.

1994-045A

Cosmos 2285, a Russian military spacecraft, was launched by a Cosmos rocket from Plesetsk cosmodrome at 20:00 UT. Initial orbital parameters are period 105 min, apogee 1,025 km, perigee 933 km, and inclination 74.0 deg.

1994-044A

Cosmos 2284, a Russian military spacecraft, was launched by a Soyuz rocket from Baykonur cosmodrome. Initial orbital parameters are period 89.2 min, apogee 296 km, perigee 206 km, and inclination 70.4 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.

   The GPS 2-NN series orbit in six distinct planes that are 60 deg apart. Each plane has four "slots." Following are the members of the planes/slots:

   PLANE    RAAN OF PLANE     SLOT-1     SLOT-2      SLOT-3      SLOT-4
   
     A           256           2-21       2-12        2-15        2-04
     B           316           2-18       2-07        2-02        2-22
     C            16           2-24       2-13        2-19        2-20
     D            76           2-11       2-09        2-05       *2-23
     E           136           2-01       2-08        2-03        2-10
     F           196           2-16       2-14        2-06        2-17
   
   

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

     Designations          Common Name            1994
   
   1994-050D (23206) R/B COSMOS 2287                  12 Aug
   1994-044B (23188) R/B COSMOS 2284                  04 Aug
   1994-037A (23145) FSW 2               Retrieved on 18 Jul
   
   

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.)

   The List of Bright Objects

   Objects observed 1992-1994 by Walter I. Nissen, Jr., CDP, at latitude 39 N, with assistance from Goddard Space Flight Center, the Smithsonian Institution, and National Capital Astronomers.

   This list is complete for objects in orbit as of this date recorded at magnitude 4 or brighter. The magnitude shown is the brightest observed magnitude. When it was clear that a glint was being observed, the brightest observed glint is recorded after the asterisk.

   Common names that are pure numbers are all Cosmos series; the letter "r" after the name signifies rocket body.

   To see the list select here.

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