Xref: utzoo rec.ham-radio:7168 sci.space.shuttle:2128
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From: karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn)
Newsgroups: rec.ham-radio,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Predictions for viewing ATLANTIS
Keywords: STS-27 WILL be visible over our area!
Message-ID: <12337@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Date: 4 Dec 88 20:21:57 GMT
References: <699@ka2qhd.UUCP>
Sender: news@bellcore.bellcore.com
Reply-To: karn@ka9q.bellcore.com.UUCP (Phil Karn)
Organization: Home for Burned-out Hackers
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The estimates I've seen for the altitude of Atlantis's orbit (and that of
its payload) range from 340 km (just above a standard shuttle orbit) up to
458 km (the eleset posted by Rich, snowdog@athena.mit.edu). I think the
higher altitude is more likely, considering that the lifetime of a payload
in the lower orbit would be measured in weeks or months. (Rich also reports
fairly consistent sightings based on his elements, so that tends to confirm
the 458 km figure ).

Even at this altitude, an orbit isn't particularly long-lived. With the
currently increasing levels of solar activity, I wouldn't expect an
unboosted payload in this orbit to last more than a couple of years at the
most.

Given the reported cost of this spacecraft, I suspect that it has some sort
of onboard boost system.  It's also quite likely that we'll be seeing some
return visits by future shuttle missions for refueling.  It should be fairly
easy to tell when this happens, since any future launch would have to match
the satellite's orbital plane.

Phil