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Suggest this Project is worth the time to help out. Observations needed of Test Satellites launched last Thursday using ‘tether’ to facilitate de-orbiting of the ALCHEMY Satellite for Project data evaluation for removing debris in Earth Orbit. Bright LEDs expected to last to about 30th Nov. ‘Sun Synchronus‘ (near Polar) Orbits. I have asked Ellen for more practical timing and elevation above horizon detail for possible viewing from the UK. See Website for TLE details.
Best Regards
Keith
Our satellites DRAGRACER launched last Thursday, and this is comprised of 2 satellites, ALCHEMY and AUGURY.
ALCHEMY has a long 70m tether that will cause it to deorbit very quickly, within ~40-50 days from deployment. This tether is extremely reflective, made of aluminized kapton. Also, both satellites have bright LEDs (I’ve estimated the app mag from 1 panel to be around +10), so until they turn off around day 10 (likely around the 30th), these satellites may be viewable in Earth’s shadow as well.
We’re trying to get as many eyes on these satellites as possible (more information on http://www.dragracersat.com/). I was wondering if you have any connections to others in the satellite tracking community, or optical ground tracking stations to assist in catching passes when visible over a given location. I can also provide more info on the updated TLE for one of the vehicles that’s not reflected on the website right now.
Ellen Glad
Optical Research & Development Engineer | Millennium Space Systems: A Boeing Company
2265 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245
971-266-9754
See attached Orbital Elements Txt Files which have been converted to ‘doc file’ including one for observation from the UK. The status of the LEDs is unknown although there are reports that they may still be working. Any Observation data welcomed, please send Reports / contact Ellen Glad via her email ellen.glad@millennium-space.com
Regards
Keith
Latest Email content from Ellen with useful info : –
If the estimate of ~10 days for the LED-on time was accurate (still looking into this), then as of today (Nov 29) the LEDs may not be visible anymore. The best bet for the coming weeks are passes at dawn/dusk when sunlight can reflect off the satellite.
“UK Access” states overhead pass durations and times, and “UK AER” states the elevation angles and specific times for the passes. These are passes until December 5th. Also, http://www.n2yo.com is an excellent, easy-to-use tool to view upcoming satellite passes for any input location. You can type in a NORAD ID in the top right box, and it’ll generate visible passes (only when there’s available sunlight reflection) for the next 10 days.
Overall, we’re trying to get as many eyes on the tethered vehicle (ALCHEMY) as possible, before it de-orbits. This will also be the vehicle that is much brighter than the other at dawn/dusk, because the tether is 70m long and made of aluminized kapton.
Other objects of interest from the same launch that may be one of our two DRAGRACER vehicles are Object ID #46954, and ID #46931. We will update if we obtain more information on which is likely to be the DRAGRACER unit(s).
As for a contact to send images or any reports of tracking/seeing the satellite, my email works just fine. There will be a submission portal for large files (raw images) on http://www.dragracersat.com, but this portal isn’t up just yet.
Please forward my contact information to anyone who wants to chat more or ask any questions.
Thanks and clear skies,
Ellen
Ellen Glad
Optical Research & Development Engineer | Millennium Space Systems: A Boeing Company
2265 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245
971-266-9754
Object ALCHEMY looks to be too difficult from the UK.
Have looked at all the passes during the coming 10 days and none look to be
practicable.
The sky will not be dark enough for the early evening passes around 16h-17h
and the later ones will be unilluminated and a few ‘000 km distant. They
also tend to be low in the sky.Have you tried flagging this on the <seesat-l@satobs.org> mailing group?
Cheers, Richard
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