karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn) (12/04/88)
Posted: Fri Dec 2, 1988 6:26 PM GMT Msg: AGII-3823-6697 From: BBARD To: AMSAT Subj: STS 27 Elements? Here are some possible elements for STS 27. No idea as to how accurate they may be. Based on earlier information published in the press and Aviation Week. Let me know if anyone sights it. Based on a 240 mi orbit inclined at 57 deg. ---Bill Satellite STS 27 NORAD Number 09999 Int Des 1988 999A Epoch 88 337.60144000 12/2/88 at 1426:04 UTC Drag 0.00040000 Rev/Day^2 Element Set 1 Inclination 57.0000 Deg RAAN 189.0600 Deg Eccentricity 0.00000000 Argument of Perigee 0.0000 Deg Mean Anomaly 0.0000 Deg Mean Motion 15.60000000 Rev/Day Epoch Revolution 1 Semimajor Axis 6765.7 Km Period 92.31 Min Apogee 387.59 Km Perigee 387.59 Km Posted: Sat Dec 3, 1988 1:21 AM GMT Msg: IGII-3824-2111 From: RWALLIO To: amsat Subj: Possible STS-27/payload sighting Thanks to Bill Bard's STS-27 elements, I have the following sighting report. Assuming its confirmed by other observations to be STS-27 and its released payload, this has been a real thrill ... thanks Bill! From 41.43788889N by 93.56797222W I observed two bright objects flying in formation from my western sky to my southern sky. At approximately 03Dec 00:21:26utc they were in my southwest sky at approximately 30-degrees elevation. LOS was at 00:26:30utc at approximately 160-degrees azimuth. The objects were very dim at LOS and slightly above my southern horizon so an eclipse may have occurred. Both objects were of equal magnitude. They were easily observable with the naked eye at maximum elevation but very dim and barely observable with 7x35 glasses at LOS. Their positions appeared to diverge as they moved to my south. These observations compare very well with predictions based on Bill's elements except that they occurred approximately 7.5-minutes later. Good hunting. Regards, Ralph Wallio, W0RPK