Here are the April sessions =-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-0=-
Here's the time-line for the evening of:
Date: 05-Apr-2011 Tuesday
9:32 PM - Name: Cosmos 1626 - Magnitude: 2.9
Int'l Designator: 1985-009-A
This is my 3rd sighting of Kosmos 1626, a Russian Tselina-D ELINT satellite that was put into orbit using a Tsyklon-3 rocket in 1985.
9:32 PM - Name: Cosmos 1220 - Magnitude: 3.8
Int'l Designator: 1980-089-A
This is my 2nd sighting of Kosmos 1220, a Russian US-P ELINT satellite which was put into orbit using a Tsyklon-2 (not Tsyklon-3) rocket in 1980. According to astronautix (my new fav place to look up stuff on odd satellites): "The US-P (later known as RTR) was a solar powered EORSAT (Electronic Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite). It used an active radar to track naval vessels from space in darkness and all weather. The RTR was an element in the integrated Soviet weapons system devoted to destruction of the US Navy's surface and submarine forces." Sounds kinda scary doesn't it???
9:36 PM - Name: Cosmos 1939 Rocket - Magnitude: 2.9
Int'l Designator: 1988-032-B
This is my first sighting of this Vostok-2M rocket. This rocket was used to put a Russian Resurs-O1 satellite (Kosmos 1939) into orbit in 1988. The Resurs-O1 satellites were for monitoring earth land resources.
9:39 PM - Name: ADEOS II - Magnitude: 2.0
Int'l Designator: 2002-056-A
this is my 6th sighting of the Japanese ADEOS II (Advanced Earth Observing Satellite 2)satellite. It was launched in Dec 2002, however its mission ended in Oct 2003 when the solar panel array failed. An investigation panel was formed and after seeing the output just before failure drop from 6 kW to 1 kW they theorized that likely there was an impact to the power harness which caused an arc and thus killed the satellite.
9:43 PM - Name: Cosmos 1606 Rocket - Magnitude: 3.7
Int'l Designator: 1984-111-B
This is my 3rd sighting of this Tsyklon-3 rocket which was used to put Kosmos 1606, a Russian Tselina-D ELINT satellite, into orbit in 1984.
9:46 PM - Name: SERVIS 2 Rocket - Magnitude: 5.2
Int'l Designator: 2010-023-B
This is my first sighting of this Russian Rokot rocket. The Rokot launch vehicle was derived from an existing ICBM platform (shocker!). This particular rocket was used to put the Japanese SERVIS 2 (Space Environment Reliability Verification Integrated System 2) satellite into orbit in 2010. Unfortunately the Rokot platform has not been very successful by rocketry standards. In 18 launches, two have failed resulting in a 10% failure rate is not very good. In fact, the most recent Rokot launch, on 01 Feb 2011, was also the most recent failure which left the satellite in a lower orbit than required.
9:48 PM - Name: Cosmos 1300 - Magnitude: 2.7
Int'l Designator: 1981-082-A
This is my first sighting of Kosmos 1300, a Russian Tselina-D ELINT satellite. It was put into orbit using a Tsyklon-3 rocket in 1981.
9:52 PM - Name: Cosmos 2360 Rocket - Magnitude: 2.4
Int'l Designator: 1998-045-B
This is my 5th sighting of this Zenit-2 rocket which was used to put Kosmos 2360, a Russian Tselina-2 ELINT satellite, into orbit in 1998.
9:53 PM - Name: Cosmos 1777 Rocket - Magnitude: 4.0
Int'l Designator: 1986-070-B
This is my first sighting of this Kosmos-3M rocket which was used to launch Kosmos 1777, a Russian Strela-2M military communications satellite, into orbit in 1986.
10:00 PM - Name: Nadezhda 6 Rocket (or SL-08 R/B) - Magnitude: 3.7
Int'l Designator: 2000-033-D
This is my first sighting of this Kosmos-3M rocket. This rocket was used to launch the Russian Nadezhda satellite (technically it should be called Nadezhda 6 since the previous 5 were called Nadezhda 1, 2, etc... however the Russians occasionally do this weird thing where they stop numbering them right before they come out with as new version or something... anyway...). The Nadezhda satellites are basically for detecting and locating distress signals from ships and aircraft that have the international COSPAS-SARSAT search-and-rescue equipment installed.
10:02 PM - Name: Chuanxin1-02 Rocket (or CZ-2D R/B) - Magnitude: 3.4
Int'l Designator: 2008-056-C
This is my first sighting of this Chinese Long March 2D rocket. This rocket was used to launch two satellites: Shiyan 1 (or Experiment 1) which is an experimental stereo digital earth mapping system and Chuang Xin 1(2) (or Creation 1 #2) which is a "store and forward" communications satellite.
10:06 PM - Name: Cosmos 2263 Rocket - Magnitude: 2.1
Int'l Designator: 1993-059-B
This is my 4th sighting of this Zenit-2 rocket which was used to launch Kosmos 2263, a Russian Tselina-2 ELINT satellite, into orbit in 1993.
10:07 PM - Name: Cosmos 1315 Rocket - Magnitude: 2.9
Int'l Designator: 1981-103-B
This is my 3rd sighting of this Vostok-2M rocket which was used to launch Kosmos 1315, a Russian Tselina-D ELINT satellite, into orbit in 1981.
Here's the time-line for the evening of:
Date: 09-Apr-2011 Saturday
9:18 PM - Name: Cosmos 1606 Rocket - Magnitude: 3.6
Int'l Designator: 1984-111-B
This is my 4th sighting of this Tsyklon-3 rocket (See Apr 5 2011 entry).
9:19 PM - Name: Meteor 3M Rocket (or SL-16 R/B) - Magnitude: 2.5
Int'l Designator: 2001-056-F
This is my 7th sighting of this Zenit-2 rocket which was used to launch the Russian Meteor 3M meteorological satellite.
9:34 PM - Name: Cosmos 1300 - Magnitude: 3.0
Int'l Designator: 1981-082-A
This is my 2nd sighting of Kosmos 1300, a Russian Tselina-D ELINT satellite (see Apr 5 2011).
9:36 PM - Name: Cosmos 1437 - Magnitude: 3.6
Int'l Designator: 1983-003-A
This is my first sighting of Kosmos 1437, a Russian Tselina-D ELINT satellite, that was put into orbit in 1983 using a Vostok-2M rocket.
9:37 PM - Name: ADEOS II - Magnitude: 2.1
Int'l Designator: 2002-056-A
This is my 7th sighting of the Japanese ADEOS II satellite. (See Apr 5 2011)
9:39 PM - Name: Cosmos 1400 Rocket - Magnitude: 3.0
Int'l Designator: 1982-079-B
This is my 3rd sighting of this Vostok-2M rocket which was used to launch Kosmos 1400, a Russian Tselina-D ELINT satellite, into orbit in 1982.
9:40 PM - Name: Cosmos 2278 Rocket - Magnitude: 2.5
Int'l Designator: 1994-023-B
This is my 3rd sighting of this Zenit-2 rocket which was used to put Kosmos 2278, a Russian Tselina-2 ELINT satellite into orbit in 1994.
9:56 PM - Name: Cosmos 1484 Rocket - Magnitude: 2.9
Int'l Designator: 1983-075-B
This is my first sighting of this Vostok-2M rocket which was used to launch Kosmos 1484, a Russian Resurs-OE earth land resource satellite, into orbit in 1983.
Here's the time-line for the evening of:
Date: 12-Apr-2011 Tuesday
9:13 PM - Name: X-37B OTV 2-1 - Magnitude: 2.4
Int'l Designator: 2011-010-A
This is my first sighting of the second X-37B (known as OTV-2 or Orbital Test Vehicle 2). OTV-2 was put into orbit using an Atlas 5 rocket. As always, the U.S. Air Force are fine with telling us _when_ the second X-37B is going to launch, however they are mum about it's orbit (which amateur sky-watchers quickly figured out) and what it's mission / experiments are. From what is known, only two OTVs have been created (OTV-1 and OTV-2).
9:42 PM - Name: SERVIS 2 Rocket - Magnitude: 5.1
Int'l Designator: 2010-023-B
This is my second sighting of this Russian Rokot rocket which was used to put the Japanese SERVIS 2 satellite into orbit in 2010. (see Apr 5 2011)
9:46 PM - Name: Alouette 1 Rocket - Magnitude: 6.0
Int'l Designator: 1962-049-B
This is my first sighting of this U.S. Thor-Agena (or, more correctly, Thor-DM21 Agena-B) rocket which was used to put Alouette 1 and TAVE (Thor-Agena Vibration Experiment) into orbit in 1962. Alouette 1 was Canada's first satellite and was used to study the ionosphere where many future satellites would be put into orbit (read more on Alouette 1; interesting stuff on its scientific life). TAVE was a set of instruments attached to the Agena-B upper stage used to study vibrations from the Thor rocket.
9:46 PM - Name: Cosmos 2219 Rocket - Magnitude: 2.1
Int'l Designator: 1992-076-B
This is my 4th sighting of this Zenit-2 rocket which was used to launch Kosmos 2219, a Russian Tselina-2 ELINT satellite, into orbit in 1992.
9:47 PM - Name: ARGOS - Magnitude: 3.3
Int'l Designator: 1999-008-A
This is my 2nd sighting of The Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS) satellite, mentioned above on March 28th 2011.
9:52 PM - Name: Cosmos 1484 Rocket - Magnitude: 3.1
Int'l Designator: 1983-075-B
NUMBER 600!!!This is my 2nd sighting of this Vostok-2M rocket. (See Apr 9 2011)
9:55 PM - Name: SJ 11-01 LM Rocket - Magnitude: 2.3
Int'l Designator: 2009-061-B
This is my 4th sighting of this Long March 2C III rocket which was used to launch Shi Jian 11-1, a Chinese science experiment satellite.
9:56 PM - Name: shooting star - Magnitude: 2.0
Int'l Designator: none
This was an orange shooting star traveling directly into the west which also had a 'burst' at the end.
10:00 PM - Name: APEX - Magnitude: 3.5
Int'l Designator: 1994-046-A
This is my 2nd sighting of the APEX (Advanced Photovoltaic Experiment) satellite. Read the Astronautix site on this one. Lots of interesting geek facts. The wikipedia page for this is minimal and not very good.
Here's the time-line for the morning / evening of:
Date: 13-Apr-2011 Wednesday
9:32 PM - Name: X-37B OTV 2-1 - Magnitude: 2.6
Int'l Designator: 2011-010-A
This is my 2nd sighting of the X-37B OTV-2 (Orbital Test Vehicle 2). (See Apr 12 2011)
Here's the time-line for the morning / evening of:
Date: 26-Apr-2011 Tuesday
9:32 PM - Name: Cosmos 660 Rocket - Magnitude: 3.4
Int'l Designator: 2011-010-A
This is my 2nd sighting of this Kosmos-3M rocket which was used to launch Kosmos 660, a Russian Taifun-1 military targeting satellite, into orbit in 1974.
Here's the time-line for the morning / evening of:
Date: 29-Apr-2011 Friday
9:28 PM - Name: ADEOS II - Magnitude: 2.2
Int'l Designator: 2002-056-A
This is my 8th sighting of ADEOS II, the Japanese Advanced Earth Observation Satellite II. (see Apr 5 2011)
9:39 PM - Name: USA 129/KH 12-3 - Magnitude: 3.5
Int'l Designator: 1996-072-A
This is my first sighting of this US NRO reconnaissance satellite known as USA 129 or KH 12-3. Historically there have been many version of reconnaissance satellites known as keyhole optical satellites. This particular satellite is from the KH-12 series (known as the Improved Crystal satellites (though the official series designation is not known and presumably KH-12 might not even be correct, but whatever). This satellite was launched using a Titan IV rocket (or more correctly, a Titan-4(04)A ).
9:40 PM - Name: Fregat/Iris - Magnitude: 3.0
Int'l Designator: 2009-049-C
This my first sighting of IRIS (Inflatable and Rigidizable Structure) which was a joint experiment between Russian and Europe. It was put into orbit using a Soyuz-2-1b Fregat rocket in 2009. IRIS was actually attached to the Fregat upper stage and was one of 5 other satellites launched by the Soyuz-2-1b rocket.
9:41 PM - Name: Cosmos 494 Rocket - Magnitude: 4.0
Int'l Designator: 1972-043-B
This is my first sighting of this Kosmos-3M rocket which was used to put Kosmos 494, a Russian Strela-2M military communications satellite, into orbit in 1972.
9:47 PM - Name: Cosmos 1939 Rocket - Magnitude: 2.8
Int'l Designator: 1988-032-B
This is my 2nd sighting of this Vostok-2M rocket which was used to launch Kosmos 1939. (see Apr 5 2011)
9:55 PM - Name: IRAS Rocket - Magnitude: 4.2
Int'l Designator: 1983-004-B
This is my 3rd sighting of this Delta 3910 rocket which was used to launch the IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) satellite. Also onboard was PIX 2 (Plasma Interaction Experiment 2) which was attached to the Delta 3910's second stage was to investigate high voltage charges on various components.
9:56 PM - Name: Cosmos 2228 Rocket - Magnitude: 3.0
Int'l Designator: 1992-094-B
This is my 3rd sighting of this Tsyklon-3 rocket which was used to put Kosmos 2228, a Russian Tselina-D ELINT satellite, into orbit in 1992.
10:00 PM - Name: Cosmos 2455 - Magnitude: 3.0
Int'l Designator: 2009-063-A
This is my 2nd sighting of Kosmos 2455, a Russian Lotos-S ELINT satellite. The Lotos-S is one component that to the Liana system which is replacing the Tselina-2 ELINT system. Kosmos 2455 was launched into orbit using a Soyuz-U rocket.
10:00 PM - Name: Cosmos 1452 Rocket - Magnitude: 3.4
Int'l Designator: 1983-031-B
This is my 4th sighting of this Kosmos-3M rocket which was used to launch Kosmos 1452, a Russian Strela-2M military communications satellite, into orbit in 1983.
10:01 PM - Name: TACSAT 3 - Magnitude: 3.6
Int'l Designator: 2009-028-A
This is my 6th sighting of TacSat 3, a U.S. recon satellite which uses ARTEMIS (Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer). the goal of this satellite was to prove that real-time data could be observed and then relayed to ground troops. It was put into orbit using a Minotaur 1 rocket.
Also, when doing this LONG catch up, I also did some research on a few objects that were previously unknown from back on November 12. Since my skills are getting a little better, I was able to identify them.
You can go to my November 12th 2010 posting to see the updates. Look for 'Picard r DbE' and 'SMOS'.
No comments:
Post a Comment