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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!hpda!fortune!dsd!dna
From: dna@dsd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: STS-9
Message-ID: <216@dsd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Nov-83 17:58:21 EST
Article-I.D.: dsd.216
Posted: Wed Nov 30 17:58:21 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 4-Dec-83 03:45:26 EST
Lines: 127


Posted: Sun  Nov 27, 1983  10:10 AM PST              Msg: BGID-1667-6345
From:   JREYMANN
To:     VRIP
CC:     AMSAT
Subj:   STS-9 Elements
Rip, I note the drag factor is an order of magnitude different
in this STS-9 element set.  Any rationale for that?

Also, the set is for epoch on orbit 48.  Bernie's message
shows earlier orbits usable in the western US.  Is there
any chance of getting an earlier epoch?
73, Skip, W6PAJ

Posted: Sun  Nov 27, 1983  10:12 AM PST              Msg: DGID-1667-6347
From:   JREYMANN
To:     ARRL
CC:     AMSAT
Subj:   STS-9 Sked
Bernie, thanks for the operating sked for STS-9.  I and many
others locally appreciate it.  We are all planning some
mountaintopping.
The earlier schedule showed only one pass on which Owen
would be available from the western US.  If this sked
is the actual ham operating sked, there are now 9 orbits
we can work.  That seems like a tremendous increase in
available time.  Am I misinterpreting the data?
73, Skip, W6PAJ


Posted: Mon  Nov 28, 1983  10:07 AM PST              Msg: CGID-1668-1434
From:   TCLARK
To:     amsat
Subj:   W5LFL -- congratulations !!!!
I watched the launch on NASA closed-circuit TV and was very proud
of our newest satellite,  "Oscar" Garriott.  Best wishes to W5LFL
for a very succesful mission. I only wish that W4KFC had lived to
share today's excitement.

Posted: Tue  Nov 29, 1983  12:49 PM PST              Msg: AGID-1669-2000
From:   RDIERSING
To:     VRIP
CC:     AMSAT
Subj:   computing backwards
Rip, Could you please mention something like the following on the nets:

There have been a few comments that the preliminary element set given
by W5RRR was a couple of days into the mission and thus later than some
of the published orbits for communication with W5LFL.  Users of any
version of the W3IWI program are reminded that computations can be made
for a days prior to the reference epoch by so specifying the date for
beginning of the prediction period.

(I have taken the beginning element set and computed backwards to the
launch date and time.  All of the AOS/LOS times for my location, 27.48N
and 97.24W, are in close agreement with figures for CENTRAL U.S. orbits
that were previously published.  Of course my times are toward the
beginning of the window for ascending passes and toward the end of the
window for descending passes.)

(There are a lot of folks out there who just decided to learn how to
use their programs yesterday.)

73, Bob

Posted: Tue  Nov 29, 1983   2:51 PM PST              Msg: IGID-1669-3188
From:   PKARN
To:     amsat
Subj:   STS-9 Launch
The launch of STS-9 was witnessed at the Press Site yesterday by KB2M and
myself.

I must admit that it was one of the most impressive things I've ever
seen; after I've collected my thoughts I will attempt to write a more
lucid description of what it looked like.  It's very difficult to do so
because it is so far outside the realm of everyday experience...

Phil

Posted: Tue  Nov 29, 1983   2:51 PM PST              Msg: MGID-1669-3192
From:   PKARN
To:     amsat
Subj:   STS-9 drag
In reference to the high drag factor on STS-9, yes, this is quite
believable.  The extremely low altitude, combined with the large
cross-sectional area of the orbiter in certain attitudes (like belly
first) causes this.  There are a number of OMS burns scheduled during
the mission to compensate for orbital decay.

Unless we can get very frequent Keplerian elements, I think that
tracking this thing with a gain antenna is going to be an exercise in
luck.

Phil

Posted: Tue  Nov 29, 1983   2:52 PM PST              Msg: OGID-1669-3194
From:   PKARN
To:     amsat
Subj:   STS-9 elements
An actual element set current as of several hours ago has been posted to
the ops bb.  All numbers are correct except orbit number, which you
should ignore.

Phil

Posted: Tue  Nov 29, 1983   2:51 PM PST              Msg: NGID-1669-3193
From:   PKARN
To:     ops
Subj:   STS-9 elements

Satellite: sts-9
Catalog number: 14523
Epoch time:      83333.59578650
   Tue Nov 29 14:17:55.954 1983 UTC
Element set:     MH 11-29-83
Inclination:       57.0210 deg
RA of node:       202.7920 deg
Eccentricity:    0.0008415
Arg of perigee:   275.8170 deg
Mean anomaly:      84.0300 deg
Mean motion:   16.09484667 rev/day
Decay rate:      0.00294794 rev/day^2
Epoch rev:               0
Semi major axis:  6626.029 km
Anom period:     89.469631 min
Apogee:            268.354 km
Perigee:           257.202 km