Subject: [SLR-Mail] No.2503: GRACE-FO Launch From: Rolf Koenig Author: Rolf Koenig Dear colleagues, the GRACE-FO launch is now scheduled for Tuesday, May 22, 2018, 19:47 UTC. Initial orbit predictions are available at the data centers, EDC and CDDIS. CPF files follow the naming conventions, f.i. gracefo1_cpf_180519_1391.gfz and gracefo2_cpf_180519_1391.gfz. They do contain preliminary satellite IDs: NORAD and COSPAR type ID need to be adopted after launch. Here a list of the numbers used: Satellite file/CPF name: gracefo1 COSPAR type ID: 1809901 NORAD ID: 99991 SIC ID: 0123 Satellite file/CPF name: gracefo2 COSPAR type ID: 1809902 NORAD ID: 99992 SIC ID: 0124 The orbit predictions will be updated as soon as new information gets available, the first update can be expected within one hour after launch. Good luck to the satellites Good luck in tracking Rolf -- -------------------------------------------- Dr. Rolf Koenig Dep. 1: Geodesy Phone: +49 (0)8153/90832-14 FAX: +49 (0)8153/90832-01 Email: rolf.koenig@gfz-potsdam.de --------------------------------- Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences c/o DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Wessling --------------------------------------------