| Date: | 2001-08-03 01:02:00 | |
| Sender: | Mike Pearlman <###FROM###> | |
| Subject: | [SLR-Mail] No. 793: ILRS Readiness Test for H2A LRE | |
| Author: | Mike Pearlman | |
| Content: | ******************************************************************************** SLR Electronic Mail 2001-08-03 01:02:00 UTC Message No. 793 ******************************************************************************** Author: Mike Pearlman Subject: ILRS Readiness Test for H2A LRE Dear Colleagues, The ILRS Governing Board has approved a one month SLR tracking campaign for the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan satellite H2A-LRE. This highly eccentric, geosynchronous transfer orbit, with an apogee of approximately 36000 Km and a perigee of approximately 250 km, is very different from anything that we have tracked before and will offer us a challenge. On the other hand the ILRS is trying to broaden its user base and must be open to new opportunities. The launch date is planned for August 25th. Detailed information on the LRE and the mission can be found at the following web site: http://god.tksc.nasda.go.jp/lr/lre.html In order to verify that the ILRS stations can track a satellite in this orbit, a test organized by NASDA is being scheduled for August 7 and 8. Your cooperations is essential. Optical observations will be made on the VEP (Vehicle Evaluation Payload), which was launched by NASDA about 7 years ago into a similar, highly elliptical orbit. (The VEP COSPAR Number is:1994007B /The NORAD Catalog Number is:22979.) The VEP satellite does not have a retroreflector array on board. However, it should be observable with SLR systems that are equipped with cameras. Magnitudes should range from 9 to 13. All VEP rehearsal information can be found at the following web site: http://god.tksc.nasda.go.jp/ Although this test is officially scheduled for either August 7 and 8 (depending upon station visibilities), TIRV data are currently available from today through the 9th of August, so testing can begin immediately. Please schedule these tests locally under optimum conditions while trying to minimizing disruption on the regularly scheduled satellite passes. We understand that this may be difficult, and interruptions may occur. Because this is a test for the LRE satellite, the VEP satellite will be labelled as LRE. Please use these tentative numbers and acronyms for your tests: Satellite name:LRE Satellite ID :1100101 (tentative) SIC CODE :1577 (tentative) ACQ ID :LRE generated span:July 31,2001 00:00:00 - Aug 9,2001 00:00:00 These TIRVs below were generated using the VEP 2-Line element. The VEP(LRE) TIRVs will be updated a few times between now and August 8. REMEMBER THAT THIS IS OPTICAL TRACKING ONLY. If you track using these TIRVs, please report tracking information to the following e- mail addresses: slr@god.tksc.nasda.go.jp kuni@crl.go.jp scott.wetzel@honeywell-tsi.com julie.horvath@honeywell-tsi.com mpearlman@cfa.harvard.edu Please prepare your report using this standard template: ----- StationName: Greenbelt Visible Acquired Time: 03:14-08:20 Az: 240 El: 50-60 IRV used: (File Name) Offset along track: 150 arcsec Offset across track: 400 arcsec Visibility Magnitude : 11 Detail offset record of LRE when centered on your field of view.(if available) EpochUTC, El along across 03:14:40 54 100, 200 03:15:40 54 150, 300 In order to assess our readiness for the H2A-LRE launch, your participation is essential. Thank you for your support, Scott Wetzel Julie Horvath Mike Pearlman ILRS Central Bureau ******************************************************************************** |