| Date: | 2005-09-06 23:21:00 | |
| Sender: | Frank Lemoine <flemoine@bowie.gsfc.nasa.gov> | |
| Subject: | [SLR-Mail] No. 1369: Meteor3M Status | |
| Author: | Frank Lemoine | |
| Content: | ******************************************************************************** SLR Electronic Mail 2005-09-06 23:21:00 UTC Message No. 1369 ******************************************************************************** Author: Frank Lemoine Subject: Meteor3M Status Dear Colleagues, This is advise that we have resumed tri-weekly deliveries of predicts for Meteor 3M. The spacecraft was reacquired by RGO/Herstmonceux on August 23 and August 26. Using these data, as well as Az-El data provided by RGO, Nikita Zelensky (NASA GSFC & SGT-Inc) supplied the initial predict last week which has allowed SLR stations to resume normal tracking of the satellite. Congratulations to Herstmonceux for homing in and acquiring a very difficult target. As a reminder, although the spacecraft did suffer a rupture of a pressure vessel, the health of the NASA Langley SAGE Instrument is not compromised, and data collection continues. We therefore urge stations to continue tracking the Meteor3M spacecraft. Based on experience by stations tracking Meteor3M this year, the passes are best acquired in the evening or at night (local time) when the spacecraft is above 35 degrees elevation. The spacecraft should be treated as low-return target (e.g., like GPS). Also, the configuration of the experimental retroreflector is such that tracking is not possible when the spacecraft is below about 30 deg elevation. We thank you for your continued support of this mission. Sincerely, Frank Lemoine Space Geodesy Laboratory, Code 697 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center From: flemoine@bowie.gsfc.nasa.gov ******************************************************************************** |