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From: wats@scicom.alphacdc.com (Bruce Watson)
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Is BURAN going to MIR?
Keywords: unmanned up, manned down?
Message-ID: <1132@scicom.alphacdc.com>
Date: 27 Oct 88 19:05:46 GMT
Organization: Alpha Science Computer Networks, Denver, Co.
Lines: 14


Radio Moscow has given a launch date/time of October 29 03:24 UT.
 Using this info and an approximate launch site lat/long (from the
Britannica I have Tyuratam 46:00N, 63:15E and Baykonur 47:46N,
66:11E--does someone have a better position?) I have determined
that Buran will have an initial Right Ascension of Ascending Node
of 89.9 degrees while Mir at Buran launch will have a RAAN of
99.3 degrees.  I haven't been following Mir.  Has it been 
making pre-Progress type maneuvers?

If Buran liftoff occurs at the given time it should be visible 
in the predawn hours over North America in the following 
days.  I have assumed a Mir-like orbit of 91 minutes and
an inclination of 51.6 degrees.