Tuesday, March 14, 2000
Monday, March 13, 2000
Meteor-1 4
1970-037A
Meteor F4 was launched in Apr 1970. It went into an orbit with a slightly higher apogee than normal. It was reported to be still transmitting in Jun 1971.
| Meteor F4 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 Apr 28 | 1050:00 | Launch by 8A92M | PL |
| 1054? | Blok E burn | ||
| 1100? | Blok E sep | ||
| 1970 Apr 29 | 0120 | 622 x 707 x 81.23 | |
| 1970 May 2 | (Blok E) | 569 x 783 x 81.2 | |
| 1970s | End of operations | ||
Thursday, March 2, 2000
STS-36 (Atlantis)
1990-019A
Atlantis flight 6 was another classified military mission. The short flight entered the highest inclination orbit ever achieved by a Shuttle, 62 degrees. Normally, launches from Cape Canaveral are restricted to at most 57 degrees inclination to avoid passing too close to the US East Coast. It is believed that the main payload was a TRW/Lockheed Improved CRYSTAL (modified KH-11) imaging reconnaissance satellite.
| STS-36 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 Jan 19 | Tow to VAB | ||
| 1990 Jan 25 | 1154 | Rollout | LC39A |
| 1990 Feb 28 | 0750:22 | Launch from LC39A | |
| 0752:25 | SRB sep | ||
| 0758:52 | MECO | ||
| 0759:10 | ET sep | 86.83 26? x 208? x 62.0 (OMS dV) | |
| 0822:20 | OMS-2 1:45 51m/s? | ||
| 0824:05 | OMS-2 CO | ||
| 0900? | 88.55 196 x 208 x 62.0 | ||
| 0922:39 | PLBD open | ||
| 1200? | 88.59 200 x 209 x 62.0 | ||
| 1342? | RCS? raise orbit | ||
| 1431:13 | OMS-3? raise orbit | ||
| 1431:41 | OMS-3 CO | ||
| 1500? | 89.47 243 x 243 x 62.0 | ||
| 1990 Mar 1 | 0900? | 89.45 241 x 253 x 62.0 | |
| 1030 | Asc node, start rev 18 | ||
| 1050? | Deployed Improved CRYSTAL? | ||
| 1118 | Desc node rev 18 | ||
| 1205 | Asc node, start rev 19 | ||
| 1801 | Asc node, start rev 23 | ||
| 1846 | Desc node S eq crossing (deploy opp?) | ||
| 1910:22 | OMS-4 L lower apogee | ||
| 1910:37 | OMS-4 CO | ||
| 1930? | 89.30 238 x 241 x 62.0 | ||
| 1990 Mar 3 | 1141 | 89.27 236 x 240 x 62.0 | |
| 1135:22 | OMS-5 R lower perigee | ||
| 1135:42 | OMS-5 CO | ||
| 1200 | 89.06 216 x 239 x 62.0 | ||
| 1990 Mar 4 | 1141 | 89.03 215 x 237 x 62.0 | |
| 1458:49 | PLBD close | ||
| 1711:17 | OMS Deorbit 2:05 78m/s | ||
| 1713:23 | OMS DO CO | ||
| 1737:40 | Entry | ||
| 1808:44 | Landed RW23 EAFB | ||
| 1808:55 | Nose gear touchdown | ||
| 1809:37 | Wheels stop | ||
| 1990 Mar 11 | 1245 | SCA takeoff | EAFB |
| 1700 | SCA landing | Biggs AAF, TX | |
| 1990 Mar 12 | 0845 | SCA takeoff | |
| 1120 | SCA landing | Columbus AFB MS | |
| 1240 | SCA takeoff | ||
| 1430 | SCA landing | KSC SLF | |
| 1900 | Tow to OPF/2 | ||
Sunday, February 27, 2000
PAGEOS
1966-056A
Pageos, the Passive Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite, was jointly funded by NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Commerce; it was built by G.T. Schjeldahl Co. (Northfield, MN) and the canister and adapter were by Goodyear. Launch was at 0012 on 1966 Jun 24. The canister separated from the Agena D 6311 stage at 0124 and deployment began. The canister contained a balloon which inflated automatically. The bright 30m dia balloon was a target for optical observations. The orbit of Pageos was 181.43 min, 4207 x 4271 km x 87.1 deg.
Launch vehicle was a TAT Agena D managed by LeRC; with launch services by KSC ULO and USAF 6569 ATW.
| Pageos | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 Jun 24 | 0012:02 | Launch by TAT Agena D | V SLC2E |
| 0013:07 | Castor sep (T+1:05) | ||
| 0014:31 | Thor MECO (T+2:29) | ||
| 0014:40 | Thor VECO (T+2:38) | ||
| 0014:46 | Thor sep (T+2:44) | ||
| 0015:06 | Agena burn (T+3:04) | ||
| 0019:03 | Agena MECO (T+7:01) | 164 x 4228 x 87 | |
| 0124:34 | Agena burn 2 (T+1:12:32) 12.3s 778 m/s | ||
| 0124:47 | Agena MECO (T+1:12:45) | 181.31 4223 x 4266 x 86.95 (VCR) | |
| 0126:23 | Payload separation (Canister from Agena) | ||
| 0127:48 | Canister halves separation | ||
| 0128:01 | Fully inflated | ||
| 1966 Jun 24 | 0437 | 181.41 4228 x 4245 x 87.2 | |
| 1966 Nov 6 | 181.20 3432 x 5025 x 86.8 | ||
| 1967 Jan 4 | 181.20 3654 x 4803 x 86.6 | ||
| 1967 Oct 2 | 180.12 2367 x 6006 x 85.7 | ||
| 1968 Sep 8 | 179.64 2096 x 6238 x 84.4 | ||
| 1969 Apr 12 | 179.85 2442 x 5910 x 84.0 | ||
| 1971 Jan 4 | 180.15 3120 x 5255 x 85.4 | ||
| 1971 Jun 16 | 180.30 3445 x 4942 x 85.9 | ||
| 1975 Jan 30 | 179.99 3251 x 5112 x 85.5 | ||
| 1975 Jun 12 | 180.11 3327 x 5045 x 85.2 | ||
| 1975 Jun 12 | |||
| 1975 Aug 30 | 180.06 3108 x 5260 x 85.3 | ||
| 1976 Jan | |||
| 1976 Feb 20 | 179.98 2969 x 5393 x 84.8 | ||
| 1976 Jun 17 | 178.70 1112 x 7150 x 83.6 | ||
| 1976 Sep 5 | 176.61 651 x 7446 x 82.2 | ||
| 1976 Sep 8 | 176.32 448 x 7627 x 82.0 | ||
| 1976 Oct 2 | 176.51 1097 x 6992 x 82.3 | ||
| 1976 Nov 7 | 179.65 2392 x 5943 x 84.4 | ||
| 1983 Dec 3 | 178.31 3433 x 4798 x 84.9 | ||
| 1986 Dec 2 | 178.47 3960 x 4283 x 85.3 | ||
| 1989 Apr 4 | 176.81 1915 x 6198 x 83.6 | ||
| 1992 Jan 23 | 177.85 3094 x 5101 x 84.5 | ||
| 1994 Sep 24 | 177.68 3613 x 4568 x 84.5 | ||
| 1997 Jul 6 | 177.68 3266 x 4915 x 85.6 | ||
| 1998 Apr 17 | 177.46 2997 x 5167 x 85.6 | ||
Saturday, February 26, 2000
DSCS-3 F2
1985-092B
The first production DSCS III, satellite B-4 (USA 11) was launched with B-5 on an IUS from orbiter Atlantis on its first flight. The two IUS burns placed the pair of DSCS III satellites in geosynchronous orbit; the IUS second stage then separated from each DSCS.
| DSCS III B-4 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 Oct 3 | 1515:30 | Launch from KSC LC39A | |
| 1985 Oct 4 | 0053? | IUS deploy | 476 x 515 x 28.5 |
| 0153? | IUS SRM-1 burn | 509 x 35200 x 28.0 | |
| 0710? | IUS SRM-1 sep | ||
| 0712? | IUS SRM-2 burn | 35185 x 35953 x 2.1 | |
| 0714? | IUS SRM-2 burnout | ||
| 0717? | RCS burn? | ||
| 0752? | IUS sep from B-4, B-5 | 35634 x 35963 x 0.3 | |
| 1986 Mar | GEO 12W? | ||
| 1995 Jul | LANT Reserve | GEO 42.5W | |
| 1997 Oct | LANT Reserve | GEO 42.5W | |
Thursday, February 24, 2000
Gambit-3 18
1968-108A
KH-8 18 was launched on 1968 Dec 4 by Titan IIIB Agena D from Vandenberg. This mission, which lasted 8 days, was the first of three that would use a much higher apogee. When the program was declassified it was revealed that these high apogee missions were unintentional; on this flight it was the Titan second stage that burned to depletion instead of cutting off, adding extra energy. This happened because the Vandenberg ground station was unable to send commands to the Titan. The orbit was adjusted on rev 93 with an SPS single-engine burn.
| KH-8 18 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Dec 4 | 1923 | Launch by Titan 3B Agena D | V SLC4W |
| 1925? | Titan stage 1 sep | ||
| 1925? | Titan stage 2 sep | ||
| 1928? | Agena burn | ||
| 1933? | Agena MECO | ||
| 93.30 136 x 736 x 106.2 | |||
| 1968 Dec 4 | 2332 | 93.26 126 x 741 x 106.3 | |
| 1968 Dec 5 | 0851 | 93.27 132 x 736 x 106.2 | |
| 1968 Dec 6 | 0459 | 92.37 127 x 654 x 106.2 | |
| 1968 Dec 9 | 0341 | 91.98 124 x 619 x 106.2 | |
| Perigee raise, SPS, rev 93 | |||
| 1968 Dec 11 | 0311 | 91.90 133 x 602 x 106.2 | |
| 2205? | SRV deorbited rev 111 | ||
| 1968 Dec 12 | 0209 | 91.83 135 x 593 x 106.2 | |
| 1968 Dec 12 | Reentered after 8d | ||
| 2240? | Deboost rev 127 | ||
Sunday, February 20, 2000
Saturday, February 19, 2000
Thursday, February 17, 2000
Wednesday, February 16, 2000
Kosmos 720
1975-019A
Kosmos-720 flew in a 62.8 deg orbit from Mar 21 to Apr 1; TLEs for Apr 1-3 refer to an ejected object,possibly a sensor cover.
| Kosmos-720 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 Mar 21 | 0650? | Launch by Soyuz | Plesetsk |
| 0654? | Blok-I burn | ||
| 0658? | Blok-I sep | ||
| 1975 Mar 21 | 89.3 212x273x62.8 | ||
| 1975 Mar 31 | 89.25 210 x 265 x 62.8 | ||
| 1975 Apr 1 | |||
| 0440? | Deorbit | ||
| 0450? | PO sep | ||
| 0459? | Entry | ||
| 0512? | Landed | ||
Monday, February 14, 2000
IRDT
2000-009B
The 110 kg demonstrator is deorbited after 5 orbits and deploys an inflatable shield during reentry. The initial shield is 0.8 x 0.7m in size, and inflates with He to 2.4m diameter and then during braking to 3.6m diam.
The IRDT consists of a conical front shield, the inflation system, the TRD shield, a cylindrical payload canister, and a cylindrical adaptor.
The demonstrator carries the 'Stone 2' experiment with basalt, dolomite and cement-carbonate samples embedded in the heat shield to study heating effects on meteorites.
Landing is in Orenburg zone, Russia
The demonstrator shield, built by Lavochkin, was originally to be used in Mars-96.
Fregat's shield, the Fregat Rescue System, inflates to 14m dia.
The Inflatable Reentry and Descent Technology Demonstrator flies on Soyuz/Fregat in 2000. The Fregat demo flight places itself, the test vehicle, and the attached DASA Mission 2000 payload in orbit. After 8 hours it deorbits and deploys an inflatable thermal shield. The shield is built by Lavochkin. Landing in Kazakhstan. [509] The shield is 8m dia stage 1, 14-m diameter stage 2.
The demonstrator payload also deorbits with a smaller inflatable shield 4-m diameter
2 burns to prove Cluster, and 2 burns for reentry.
IRDT has a mass of 111 kg. Diameter 0.8m initial, 2.3m stage 1, 3.8m stage 2. Landed at 53E 51N. Stage 2 did not deploy and impact was at 60 m/s. Total mass was 112 kg (plus the 33 kg small NTU).
In Russian the inflatable heat shield is called NTU:
\uni{ надувного тормозного устройства }{ }
(\uni{ НТУ)}{ }
| Fregat | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Feb 8 | 2320:00 | Launch | KB LC31 |
| T+1:58 Strapon sep | |||
| T+2:54 GO sep | |||
| T+4:47 Blok A sep | |||
| T+5:21 Interstage sep | |||
| 2328:45 | T+8:45 MECO | ||
| T+8:49 Blok I sep | -1200 x 180? x 64.9 | ||
| T+8:54 Fregat SOZ burn 195s 0.53 km/s | |||
| T+9:49 Fregat MES-1 | |||
| 2333:04 | T+13:04 Fregat MECO-1, transfer orbit | 168 x 564 x 64.9 | |
| 2336? | Blok I reentry | ||
| 2000 Feb 9 | 0022:00 | T+1:02:00 Fregat SOZ-2 | |
| 2000 Feb 9 | 0022:55 | T+1:02:55 Fregat MES-2 | |
| T+1:03:35 Fregat MECO-2 | 590 x 613 x 64.9 | ||
| 0023:48 | T+1:03:48 GM (Dummy mass) sep | ||
| 0641:46 | T+7:21:46 SOZ-3 | ||
| T+7:22:41 Fregat Burn 3, lower peri | |||
| T+ 7:23:17 Fregat MECO-3 at 582 km | 151 x 601 x 64.9 | ||
| 0728:43 | T+8:04:43 SOZ-4 | ||
| 0729:38 | T+8:09:38 MES-4 | ||
| 0737:49 | T+8:17:49 MECO-4 at 135 km | -4300 x 180 x 64.9 | |
| 0738:11 | T+8:18:11 Demo RV sep | ||
| 0738:31 | T+8:18:31 Adapter sep from Fregat | ||
| Shield deploy at 50 km | |||
| T+8:19:45 Entry | |||
| 0757 | T+8:35s Impact at 13m/s | ||
Friday, February 11, 2000
STS-66 (Atlantis)
1994-073A
STS-66 was launched at 1700 UT on 1994 Nov 3. SSME ignition was at 1659:36 and liftoff at 1659:43. The RMS 202, flying for the first time, grappled CRISTA-SPAS at 2154 UT on Nov 3, but the satellite was left berthed until Nov 4. At 1250 UT on Nov 4 the SPAS was deployed by Mission Specialist Clervoy.
The DTO 835 Mir Approach Demonstration involved a `plus R bar' rendezvous. Atlantis carried out the first `plus R-bar' rendezvous on Nov 12, approaching SPAS along its radius vector from below. Ochoa grappled the SPAS with the RMS at 1305 UT on Nov 12 and it was berthed and latched in the bay at 1650 UT.
Atlantis was waved off from KSC because of an Atlantic hurricane. The 3min 30sec deorbit burn was at 1431 UT on Nov 14, with entry interface at 1502. Atlantis touched down on RW22 at Edwards at 1533:48, with wheels stop at 1534:37.
| STS-66 mission events | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
| 1994 Oct 4 | Tow to VAB | VAB/3 | |
| 1994 Oct 4 | ET mate | VAB/3 | |
| 1994 Oct 10 | Rollout | LC39B | |
| 1994 Nov 3 | 1659:43 | Launch from LC39B | |
| 1701:48 | SRB Sep | ||
| 1708:18 | MECO | 87.86 26 x 309 x 57.0 | |
| 1708:36 | ET sep | ||
| 1735:56 | OMS-2 2:40 80m/s | 90.59 296 x 310 x 57.0 | |
| 1830 | PLBD open | ||
| 1927 | Activate Spacelab | ||
| 2154 | RMS grapple SPAS | ||
| 1994 Nov 4 | 1145:54 | RMS unberth SPAS | |
| 1249:45 | RMS deploy SPAS | 90.58 295 x 310 x 57.0 | |
| 1307 | 90.57 294 x 310 x 57.0 | ||
| Begin 12 RCS burns | |||
| 1604:52 | NC-1 0.7s | ||
| 1994 Nov 5 | 1016:13 | NC-2 7s 1.8fps | |
| 1994 Nov 5 | 1303 | 90.55 291 x 310 x 57.0 | |
| 1994 Nov 6 | 2312:42 | NC-6 6s 2fps | |
| 1994 Nov 7 | 1359 | 90.51 289 x 308 x 57.0 | |
| 1807:29 | NC-7 6s 1.5fps | ||
| 1994 Nov 8 | 1119:43 | NC-9 2s 0.5fps | |
| 2245:00 | NC-10 2.5fps | ||
| 1994 Nov 9 | 0223:44 | NC-10A | |
| 1254:42 | NC-11 0.8fps | 90.44 288 x 303 x 57.0 | |
| 1994 Nov 10 | 1143:43 | NC-13 10s 2.5fps | |
| 1994 Nov 11 | 1924:33 | NC-15 8s 0.6fps | |
| 1994 Nov 12 | 0041:43 | NC-16 12s 1.8fps | 90.38 285 x 300 x 57.0 |
| 0559 | NC-17 93s 7m/s | 90.59 288 x 318 x 57.0 | |
| 0718:00 | NC-18 OMS-3L 32s 8m/s | 90.32 285 x 294 x 57.0 | |
| 0802 | NCC-1 24s 2m/s | ||
| 1029:00 | TI OMS-4L 11s 3m/s | ||
| 1049:17 | MC1 RCS | ||
| 1121:46 | MC2 RCS | ||
| 1131:40 | MC3 RCS | ||
| 1153:10 | MC4 RCS | ||
| 1229 | 90.37 284 x 301 x 57.0 | ||
| 1245 | Rendezvous with SPAS | ||
| 1305 | RMS grapple SPAS | ||
| 1650 | RMS berth SPAS | 90.38 284 x 301 x 57.0 | |
| 1994 Nov 14 | 0700 | 90.38 284 x 301 x 57.0 | |
| 1115 | Deactivate Spacelab | ||
| 1155 | PLBD closed | ||
| 1431:05 | OMS DO (3:34) 116m/s | -70 x 301 x 57.0 | |
| 1502:26 | Entry interface | ||
| 1533:45 | Landed RW22 EAFB | ||
| 1534:37 | Wheels stop | ||
| 1994 Nov 20 | SCA to Biggs | ||
| 1994 Nov 21 | SCA to KSC | ||
Thursday, February 10, 2000
Kosmos 144
1967-018A
Meteor No. 6 was launched in Feb 1967. It was the first Meteor launch from Plesetsk and the first launch of the 8A92M rocket.
| Kosmos-144 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 Feb 28 | 1435 | Launch by Vostok 8A92M | PL |
| Blok-E burn | |||
| 1445? | Blok-E cutoff, orbit insertion | ||
| 1445? | Blok-E sep | 96.9 574 x 644 x 81.3 | |
| 1968 Mar | Still transmitting | ||
| 1982 Sep 14 | Reentered | ||