Spaceflight: October 2002

 https://welib.org/md5/8262a4502a8624ba2ffdfcb7d62931c9

Inmarsat 203

 1991-084B

---

The Inmarsat II F-3 satellite was placed at 178E to be the POR satellite.

Inmarsat II F-3
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1991 Dec 16	2319:48	Launch by Ariane (V48)	CSG ELA2
		T+2:27 PAL sep
		T+3:32 St 1 sep
		T+3:35 St 2 MES
		T+4:05 Fairing
		T+5:43 St 2 sep
		T+5:48 St 3 MES
	2337:38	T+17:50 St 3 MECO
	2339:54	T+20:06 Telecom 2A sep
	2342:12	T+22:24 Spelda sep
	2344:21	T+24:33 Inmarsat 2F3 sep
			645.25 362 x 36351 x 3.8
1991 Dec 18?	1130?	LAM-1
1991 Dec 18			715.62 4443 x 35804 x 3.5
1991 Dec 22	2350?	LAM-2
1991 Dec 23			1431.65 35583 x 35816 x 2.6 GEO 155.4E+1.1E
1991 Dec 24			1435.96 35743 x 35824 x 2.7 GEO 155.4E
1992 Jan 5			1435.48 35739 x 35809 x 2.7 GEO 156.5E+0.1E
1992 Jan ?		Arrive 178E
1993 Mar 28			1436.06 35775 x 35796 x 1.8 GEO 178.9E
1993 Jul 18			1436.04 35774 x 35796 x 1.6 GEO 178.0E
1995 Aug 19			1436.04 35777 x 35793 x 0.5 GEO 178.0E
1996 Dec 10			1436.02 35768 x 35801 x 0.3 GEO 178.1E
1997 Feb 14			1436.10 35769 x 35804 x 0.3 GEO 179.9E
1997 Feb		Move to IOR
1997 Mar 19			1436.10 35772 x 35800 x 0.3 GEO 65.1E
1997 Jul 20			1436.12 35732 x 35841 x 0.5 GEO 64.8E
1999 Jun 10			1436.07 35773 x 35798 x 0.8 GEO 65.0E
2001 Sep 20			1436.07 35776 x 35796 x 1.2 GEO 65.0E
2001 Sep 22		mv out
2001 Dec 3			1429.26 35639 x 35666 x 1.4 GEO 169W+1.7E
2001 Dec 19		mv to 142W	1429.18 35635 x 35666 x 1.4
2002 Jan 3			1436.05 35768 x 35802 x 1.4 GEO 142.0W
2002 Aug 18			1436.03 35773 x 35797 x 2.0 GEO 142.0W

USA-138

 1998-016A

---

UHF F/O F8 is the first of the Block III satellites. UHF F8 to F10 carry a high data rate relay package and a TV direct broadcast payload, replacing the SHF transponders. The high capacity USN Global Broadcast Service (GBS) will decrease the time it takes for US forces to receive imagery information.  F8 also has an extra solar panel on each solar array wing. Launch mass is 3200 kg, BOL mass 1540 kg.

F8 will be stationed at 172E/Pacific, replacing FLTSATCOM 4. Control is by 3rd SOS/Falcon until 1999, when NSOC/Pt Mugu takes over. Launch is by the last Atlas 2, using the 14-foot fairing, with an MRS (minimum residual shutdown) transfer orbit.

UHF F/O F8
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1998 Mar 16	2132	Launch by Atlas 2 AC-132	CC LC36A
		T+2:46 BECO
		T+2:49 Booster sep
		T+3:35 PLF sep
		T+4:34 SECO
		T+4:36 Atlas sep
		T+4:58 MES-1
	2143	T+11:39 MECO-1	159 x 867 x 28.2
	2157	T+25:56 MES-2
	2159	T+27:28 MECO-2	222 x 23442 x 27.0
	2202	T+30:56 Centaur sep
1998 Mar 16			415.43 219 x 23910 x 26.9
1998 Mar 18	1530?	LAM-1 perigee
1998 Mar 18			511.81 203 x 29430 x 26.9
1998 Mar 19	0030?	LAM-2 perigee
1998 Mar 19			541.52 226 x 31031 x 26.9
1998 Mar 20	0300?	LAM-3 perigee
1998 Mar 20			639.49 273 x 36144 x 26.9
1998 Mar 20	1900?	LAM-4 apogee
1998 Mar 21			643.93 516 x 36130 x 26.4
1998 Mar 21	1400?	LAM-5 apogee
1998 Mar 21			1158.99 24226 x 36116 x 7.2
1998 Mar 23	0900?	LAM-6 apogee
1998 Mar 24			1432.43 35268 x 36161 x 6.0 GEO 178.5W+0.9E
1998 Apr 1			1435.79 35477 x 36083 x 6.0 GEO 170.7W+0.07E
1998 May 1			1436.27 35484 x 36095 x 6.0 GEO 171.5W+0.05W
1998 Jun 28			1436.08 35769 x 35802 x 5.9 GEO 171.2E
1999 Jul 25			1435.94 35772 x 35794 x 5.2 GEO 172.3E

Maclean’s: December 9,2002

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Southern fried makeover

https://welib.org/md5/06d81c61524d0c58307f8d5ff9d7350c

Soyuz 8 (Granite)

 1969-087A

---

The third member of the fleet was 7K-OK No. 16 (Soyuz-8), which carried the active docking system. The radar system failed and attempted rendezvous was carried out manually.

Soyuz-8
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1969 Oct 13	1019:09	Launch by Soyuz 11A511	KB
		T+1:55 SAS sep
		T+1:58 Blok BVGD sep
		T+2:45 Fairing
		T+4:45 Blok A sep
		T+4:48 St 3 MES
	1027:59	T+8:50 St 3 MECO
	1028	St 3 sep
	2330		89.37 208 x 279 x 51.64
1969 Oct 14		Flyby Soyuz-7, miss by 1 km
1969 Oct 15	0940	Within 1.7 km, begin manual approach
	0950?	Flyby Soyuz-7, miss by 500m
	2245		88.79 202 x 228 x 51.65
1969 Oct 16	1200	Manual orbit correction
	1800		88.70 208 x 212 x 51.63
1969 Oct 17	0850		88.90 205 x 236 x 51.65
1969 Oct 18	0829:30	Retrofire
	0832?	DO CO
	0842?	Modules sep
	0848?	Entry
	0909:58	Landed 145 km N of Karaganda

Nimbus 4

  1970-025A

---

Nimbus IV carried a new set of experiments, Launch was on 1970 Apr 8, again by Thorad Agena D. Nimbus IV achieved a 1095 x 1100 km x 99.9 deg orbit and operated for over ten years. 

Nimbus 4
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1970 Apr 8	0817:56	Launch by Thorad Agena D
		T+0:39 SRM 1-3 out
		T+1:42 SRM 1-3 sep
	0820	T+3:44 Thorad MECO
		T+4:19 Agena MES-1, 235s
		T+4:28 Fairing
	0826:09	T+8:13 Agena MECO-1	158 x 1097 x 99.91
	0912:06	T+54:10 Agena MES-2, 5s 1003 m/s
	0912:11	T+54:15 Agena MECO-2
	0916:19	T+58:23 Agena sep
	0916:30?	Agena retro-1
	1002	T+1:44:00 TOPO eject
	1002?	Agena retro-2
1970 Apr 8			1092 x 1101 x 99.91
1977 Oct 18		Initial retirement
1980 Sep 30		End of ops
1982 Dec		Last tx

Aviation Week: October 14,2002

 https://welib.org/md5/6c0e6afc1fdec12b26b66a7c63df63b8

Club Management: June 2002

 https://welib.org/md5/66e2d2e266cfd62034af0d69ba9d80e1

Kosmos 238

  1968-072A

---

Kosmos-238 was launched in Aug 1968 on a solo mission. It was a test flight to prepare for Soyuz-2 and Soyuz-3. 

Kosmos-238
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1968 Aug 28	1000:00	Launch by Soyuz	KB
	1004	Blok-I burn
	1009	Blok-I sep	88.55 196 x 210 x 51.70
1968 Aug 29	0000		88.51 189 x 213 x 51.68
1968 Aug 30	0500	Orbit raise	89.10 207 x 253 x 51.67
1968 Aug 30	1430	Apogee lower	88.77 202 x 226 x 51.68
1968 Aug 31	0930	Apogee raise	89.07 204 x 253 x 51.67
1968 Sep 1	0230	Orbit lowered	88.67 192 x 225 x 51.67
	0821?	Deorbit
	0824?	DO CO
	0834?	PAO, BO sep
	0840?	Entry
	0854?	Landed after 3.95d

STS-107 (Columbia)

 2003-003A

---

Launch of STS-107, originally planned for July 2002, was delayed just prior to VAB rollover when cracks were found inside fuel lines on Atlantis and Discovery. The launch was eventually carried out in Jan 2003. During ascent, a large piece of SOFI insulation from the ET hit the port wing. It separated at T+1:21.7, and 0.2s later hit the wing at around RCC panel 8 with a relative velocity of around 0.2 km/s (gained by the high drag on the light piece of foam), puncturing the RCC and providing an entry path for hot gas.

After two weeks of successful science on orbit, the Columbia reentered the atmosphere heading for RW33 at KSC. At around 1355 UTC controllers noticed several unrelated sensors go down, and at 1359 UTC they commented to the crew about readings from the main gear break pressure sensors. As the crew were in the middle of replying, voice and telemetry suddenly were lost. The final telemetry shows functioning APUs but empty hydraulic systems.

Launch mass was 119612 kg. Landing mass would have been 106103 kg and EI mass was 106356 kg. On orbit mass after OMS-2 was 115710 kg. Prop load (OMS/RCS) was 12540 kg. Payload mass per QL summary is 11029 kg; Spacehab was 8197 kg at deorbit time (up to but not including Tunnel Adapter). Middeck science cargo was 360 kg. Engines are 2055/2053/2049; tank ET-93A (light weight tank) and BI-116PF.

A 0.3 x 0.4m debris object separated on Jan 17 and reentered on Jan 19. It may have been the critical RCC carrier panel.

STS-107
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
2002 Apr 25		EDO installed
2002 Nov?		Roll to VAB
2002 Dec 9		Roll to LC39A
2003 Jan 16	1538:55	SSME ignition
	1539:00	Launch	KSC LC39A
	1540:21.9	T+80s foam hits left wing
	1541:06	SRB sep
	1541:08	RCS window protect 2s
	1541:16	OMS assist 1:42
	1542:59	OMS CO
	1547:22	T+8:22 MECO command
	1547:33	T+8:33 MECO	78 x 272 x 39.0
	1547:44	ET sep
	1547:57	ET Photo +X RCS
	1549:24	MPS dump
	1551:24	MPS dump complete
	1620:24	OMS-2 2:00 56.6m/s	82 x 288 x 39.0 (OMS dV)
	1622:24	OMS 2 CO	90.14 272 x 289 x 39.0
	1654	Attitude change for PLBD open
	1736:01	PLBD open
		ET impact at 2.28N 139.42W
	1754	Ku deploy
	1847	Port radiator deploy
2003 Jan 17			90.13 272 x 289 x 39.0
	1442	Yaw mvr bay-to-earth, tail-forward bias 48deg
	1517	Yaw mvr, bay-to-earth, tail-forward
	1517?	Debris object 2003-03B separates (1530 to 1600 UTC)
	1625	Fuel cell purge
	2139	Water dump
2003 Jan 19	2239	Port radiator stow
2003 Jan 20
2003 Jan 21			90.05 270 x 284 x 39.0
2003 Jan 26			89.98 266 x 279 x 39.0
2003 Jan 29			89.94 265 x 277 x 39.0
2003 Jan 31			89.92 263 x 276 x 39.0
2003 Feb 1			89.90 263 x 275 x 39.0
	1049:11	PLBD closed
	1315:30	OMS DO 2:38 78.6m/s
	1318:08	OMS DO CO	1 x 275 x 39.0
			8.3 x 295.6 x 39.0 (MR)
	1344:09	Entry interface 120.400 km
	1348:39	Left wing LESS strain gauge increase
	1348:59	RCC 9/10 attach clevis temp sensor trend
	1349:07	Closed loop guidance
	1349:32	Begin right roll
	1349:39	Four left OMS temp lower than predicted
	1350:00	First comm dropout (debris)
	1350:43	5th (last) comm dropout
	1350:53	Peak heating begins 74.081 km
	1351:14	Heating near panels 9-10, leading edge spar temp
	1351:14	Wing spar breach between :14 and :59
	1352:05	Elevon trim adjusted to adapt to yaw torque
	1352:09	Comm droput
	1352:17	Left main gear brake line temp sensors show rise, 72.1 km
	1352:25	Elevon transient
	1352:25?	Comm droput
	1352:31	Elevon transient
	1352:31	Comm droput
	1352:44	Roll/yaw coeffs change - extra drag
	1352:49	Comm droput
	1352:59?	Gas plume burns through wiring in wing outside wheel well
	1352:59	Elevon skin temp sensor off line
	1353:01	Trim adjust for roll moment
	1353:28	Crosses California coast, left fuselage temp rise
	1353:32	Comm droput
	1353:46	Upper wing skin breach and separation?
	1353:46	Debris shedding observed from ground
	1353:46	Main gear brake line temp rise
	1354:00	Wheel well wall melting
	1354:11	End of observed debris shedding
	1354:20	Elevons moving to counteract increasing drag
	1354:22	Midfuselage left body line temp x=1215 rise
		Wing deformation now significant
	1354:33	First bright flash observed from ground
	1354:35	Debris object 6 separates, 100 kg?
	1354:37	Visual flash
	1355:04	Flash, first of 10 more
	1355:21	Increasing drag, 68.3 km
	1356:00	Flash, last of 10; comm droput
	1356:16	Hot gas in wheel well
	1356:20	Upper/lower wing skin temps off line
	1356:30	67.0 km, first roll reversal bank
	1356:55	Complete first roll reversal, in left bank
	1357:11	Bank to left
	1357:14	Kirtland photo shows flow disturbance
	1357:19	Tire pressure bit flips
	1357:35	Elevon roll trim increased due to left wing drag 65.8 km
	1358:03	Major change to dynamic pressure
	1358:03	Sharp elevon motions
	1358:33	Left gear tire pressures off line
	1358:39	Crew tire pressure alarm
	1359:23	Loss of realtime telemetry at MCC
	1359:26	Increasing left wing drag, more deformation
	1359	Increasing attitude rates
	1359:30	RCS yaw due to drag
	1359:31	8 degree elevon motion due to drag
	1359:32	Last comment from CDR; 61.2 km; LOS
	1359:36	Drag forces left wing to roll down
	1359:38	Orbiter loss of signal and of control; M=18.16, 61.193 km (early CAIB)
	1359:46	Roll reference warning message
	1359:46	Large debris event (L OMS pod cover?, Deb A)
	1359:52	OMS-L alarm, L OMS pod separates (Deb D)
	1400:02	Hand controller possibly engaged?
	1400:02	Last telemetry fragment, for 2s
	1400:02	Debris B, C left wing portions
	1400:04	Left wing separated
	1400:04	End of telemetry
	1400:05	PLT attempt APU restart
	1400:11	OMS tank ruptures
	1400:14	Loss of MADS data
	1400:17	Debris B
	1400:18	Debris C
	1400:18	Vehicle catastrophic breakup
		PLBD fails
		Forebody breaks off
	1400:25	Forebody separated, 55.1 km
	1400:27	Right wing separated
	1400:30	Ground video shows multiple contrails
	1400:31	Spacehab separates
	1400:34	Vertical tail separates
	1400:34	Aft fuselage sep
	1400:35	Cabin is depressurized
	1400:43	Tunnel adapter sep
	1400:48	SPACEHAB breakup (D22)
	1400:50	SSMEs separate
	1400:53	Crew module breakup 42 km
		Middeck destroyed
	1401:07	Middeck accom. Rack sep
	1401:08	Flight deck destroyed
	1401:10	End of cabin destruction, 32 km
	1404	First reports of trail debris
	1414	Contingency declared
	1435	All debris on ground
	1526	First reports of ground debris

Explorer 36

  1968-002A

---

Geos 2 (Geos B before launch) was orbited on 1968 Jan 11 at 1618 from Vandenberg. It entered a 112.3 min, 1084 x 1577 km x 105.8 deg orbit and was given the designation Explorer XXXVI. It was operational until 1968 Dec 30.

Geos 2
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1968 Jan 11	1616:00	Launch by Delta	V
		SRM out
		T+1:05 Castor II SRM sep
	1618	T+2:30 MECO
		T+2:36 Stage 1 sep
	1618	T+2:36 SES-1 6:13
		T+2:40 Fairing
	1624:40	SECO-1 T+8:40
	1631:48?	St 2 sep	-3680? x 1097 x 105.8
	1631:48	T+15:48 FW4D burn 33s
	1632:19	T+16:19 FW4D burnout
	1632?	Despin
	1633	FW4D sep	112.3 1084 x 1577 x 105.8
1968 Jan 15	1224	Boom deployed to 9m
1968 Feb 20		Science operations begin
1968 Dec 30		End of main ops

Mrs. Astor's New York: Money and Power in a Gilded Age

 https://welib.org/md5/1af03e8089b33600ec7be38a74332480

Kosmos 159

  1967-046A

---

The Earth orbital mission of Kosmos-159 remained mysterious to Western observers for many years, and it was often assumed to be related to the Soyuz or L-1 programs. In the 1990s it was suggested that Kosmos-159 was actually a Luna space probe of the Luna-12 type, E-6LS No. 111, modified to serve as a test of the N-1/L-3 deep space communications and tracking network. The E-6LF cameras were replaced by experimental equipment for the N-1/L-3 program, including comms equipment from the LOK.

Kosmos-159
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1967 May 16	2144:55	Launch by Molniya 8K78M	KB
	2149	Blok-A sep
	2149	Blok-I burn
	2154	Blok-I sep	90.87 200 x 434 x 51.83
	2251?	BOZ burn
	2252?	Blok-L burn
	2256?	Blok-L sep	1174.2 350 x 60637 x 51.6
1967 Jul 25			1173.85 671 x 60294 x 51.9
1969 Feb 3			1173.86 2133 x 58832 x 53.1
1970 Jan 1			1174.16 2444 x 58533 x 53.4
1971 Jan 2			1174.34 2307 x 58678 x 53.5
1972 Jan 3			1174.25 1675 x 59306 x 52.9
1973 Jan 1			1174.02 1023 x 59949 x 52.3
1974 Jan 1			1174.08 1013 x 59958 x 53.3
1975 Jan 2			1173.46 1427 x 59514 x 54.7
1976 Jan 25			1173.18 1541 x 59395 x 54.8
1977 Jan 3			1173.33 999 x 59944 x 53.5
1977 Sep 23			1173.26 235 x 60705 x 52.0
1977 Oct 11			1172.66 163 x 60752 x 51.8
1977 Nov 11?		Reentered

Kosmos 115

  1966-033A

---

Zenit-2 No. 35 was launched in Apr 1966 and flew a successful week-long mission.

Kosmos-115
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1966 Apr 20	1040	Launch by Vostok 8A92	KB
	1045?	Blok-E burn
	1050?	Blok-E sep
			89.3 190 x 294 x 65 (TASS)
	1200		89.4 201 x 294 x 65.0 (RAE)
1966 Apr 22	1904		89.25 187 x 286 x 65.0
1966 Apr 26	0620		89.16 182 x 282 x 65.0
1966 Apr 28	0907?	Landed after 7.93d

XSS-10

 2003-005B

---

The XSS-10 inspector microsatellite is built by AFRL. It tests a new propulsion system , hydrazine Guidance, navigation & control (GNC) Miniaturized communications system Primary lithium polymer batteries Integrated camera and star sensor.

Mass is 28 kg. Size is 1.0 long 0.45m dia.

XSS-10
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
2003 Jan 29	1806:00	Launch by Delta 7925-9.5	CC LC17
		T+1:03 SRM 1-6 out
		T+1:06 SRM 7-9 on
		T+1:07 SRM 1-6 sep
		T+2:12 SRM 7-9 out
		T+4:24 MECO
		T+4:32 St 1 sep
		T+4:38 SES-1
		T+4:59 Fairing sep
	1816:53	T+10:53 SECO-1	172 x 198 x 36.9
	1908:39	T+1:02:39 SES-2
	1909:15	T+1:03:15 SECO-2	187 x 1157 x 37.2
	1910:08	T+1:04:08 Stage 2 sep
		SES-3
		SECO-3
		SES-4
		SECO-4?	703 x 806 x 39.6
2003 Jan 30	10035	XSS-10 sep
		Drift 200m away
	1110	Inspection approach 1, 100m
	1120	Inspection approach 1b, 35m
	1126	Drift few 100 m away
	1245	Inspection approach 2, 35 and 100m?
	1325	Inspection approach 3, 35 and 100m?
	1340	Sleep mode
	1620	Reactivated
	1805	depletion burn	516 x 804 x 39.8

Town and Country: June 2002

 https://welib.org/md5/2e6c056a0699ba3785551089011146ec

Kosmos 2314

 1995-031A

---

A month passed before the next Yantar' class launch. The mission lasted 70 days.

Kosmos-2314
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1995 Jun 28	1825:00	Launch by Soyuz-U	Plesetsk
	1833	Blok-I sep
1995 Jun 28			89.61 166 x 343 x 67.1
1995 Jun 28			89.56 166 x 339 x 67.1
1995 Jul 3			89.39 164 x 323 x 67.1
1995 Jul 3		Orbit raise	89.69 168 x 350 x 67.1
1995 Jul 8			89.47 166 x 329 x 67.1
1995 Jul 8		Orbit raise	89.55 167 x 337 x 67.1
1995 Jul 10			89.47 167 x 329 x 67.1
1995 Jul 11		Orbit raise	90.23 167 x 404 x 67.1
1995 Jul 21		SpK-1 fid
1995 Jul 25			89.43 160 x 332 x 67.1
1995 Jul 25		Orbit raise	89.54 162 x 341 x 67.1
1995 Jul 30			89.25 158 x 315 x 67.1
1995 Jul 30		Orbit raise	89.73 186 x 335 x 67.1
1995 Jul 31			89.66 182 x 331 x 67.1
1995 Aug 2			89.57 167 x 337 x 67.1
1995 Aug 6			89.18 163 x 304 x 67.1
1995 Aug 6		Orbit raise	89.92 169 x 371 x 67.1
1995 Aug 8			89.84 169 x 364 x 67.1
1995 Aug 8		Orbit raise	90.33 173 x 408 x 67.1
1995 Aug 13		SpK-2 fid
1995 Aug 26			89.60 171 x 337 x 67.1
1995 Aug 26		Orbit raise	89.91 180 x 359 x 67.1
1995 Sep 6			89.41 174 x 315 x 67.1
1995 Sep 7			89.09 168 x 290 x 67.1
1995 Sep 9
	1932?	Deorbit
	1946?	Entry
	1958?	Landed

Arthurian Legends

 https://welib.org/md5/200d95dc4b4d39c1a887c727f070f970

Sigma 7

  1962-052A

---

The Mercury-Atlas 8 flight was named Sigma Seven by pilot Wally Schirra. Launched atop Atlas 113D from pad 14 at Cape Canaveral, the Mercury flight lasted 8 hours.

MA-8
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1962 Oct 3	1215:11	Launch
	1217:19	Booster sep
	1217:44	LES sep
	1220:26	SECO
	1220:29	Atlas 113D sep
	1220	Posigrade burn
	1332		88.92 156 x 286 x 32.6
	2106:41	Retrofire
	2108:11	Retropack sep
	2116:51	Entry
	2128:22	Splashdown in Pacific
	2209	Recovered by USS Kearsage