Decay of the Optical Calibration Sphere
Report by Alan Pickup, author of Satevo.
Object: #26062 = 00- 4 B = OCS
OCS stands for Optical Calibration Sphere, an American 3.5 m diameter kapton / aluminum inflated sphere used as an optical tracking target.
Notice prepared: 2001 Mar 5 20:00 UTC
Decay predictions:
| Source |
Prediction made UTC |
Predicted decay at UTC |
Latitude |
Longitude |
| SpaceCom |
Feb 28 17:32 |
Mar 4 17:16 +-2d |
12.3 S |
58.1 W |
| SpaceCom |
Mar 2 05:59 |
Ma 5 06:24 +-2d |
2.8 N |
76.6 W |
| SpaceCom |
Mar 3 14:08 |
Mar 5 12:52 +-1d |
79.9 S |
100.4 E |
| SpaceCom |
Mar 4 10:58 |
Mar 5 09:33 +-14h |
24.2 S |
129.0 W |
| SpaceCom |
Mar 4 21:00 |
Mar 5 08:53 +-7h |
49.0 N |
53.6 E |
| SpaceCom |
Mar 5 05:26 |
Mar 5 07:07 +-2h |
15.9 S |
94.9 E |
| SpaceCom |
Mar 5 09:15 |
Mar 5 06:50 +-21m |
78.4 S |
156.0 E |
| Satevo |
Feb 28 19:55 |
Mar 5 18:31 +-1.3d
|
|
|
| Satevo |
Mar 1 21:00 |
Mar 6 02:49 +-1.2d
|
|
|
| Satevo |
Mar 2 23:10 |
Mar 6 02:48 +-18h |
|
|
| Satevo |
Mar 3 19:10 |
Mar 5 12:44 +-11h |
|
|
| Satevo |
Mar 4 17:40 |
Mar 5 11:38 +-5h |
0.0 |
23.5 E |
| Satevo |
Mar 5 20:00 |
Mar 5 06:53 +-20m |
59.5 S |
112.2 E |
Final elset:
OCS 3.6 0.0 0.0 4.1 v 3.7 239 x 200 km
1 26062U 00004B 01064.23572161 .92368558 37808-5 44568-1 0 5797
2 26062 100.1746 0.8731 0029957 169.7092 190.6323 16.20008589 58862
Note: The final elset shows it 118 sec early against yesterday's prediction. This decay showed a relentless shift earlier over the final days. I estimate that it decayed northbound to the SW of Australia in the latter stages of the orbit described by the final elset.
You can see an illustration of the OCS's decay point courtesy of the Aerospace Corporation.
US Space Command's decay notice:
IntID/Name CatNo Source period Incl Apogee Perigee RCS
------------ ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- --------
2000-004B 26062 US 88.9 100.2 239 200 6.3465
OCS Launched (2000/01/27) Decayed [2001/03/05]
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