[amsat-bb] Re: USA Spy satellite - out of control?

[Greg Beat]

>From what I have been able to read on the Internet , so far --

USA-193/NROL-21, supposedly an Experimental radar reconsat with a similar orbit to that of Lacrosse satellites (but lower altitude), passing over the same area of Earth every two days.
Supposedly the initial orbital elements were to be 354 x 376 km x 58.5 deg.

USA 193          5.0  2.5  0.0  4.3 v
1 29651U 06057A   08022.26928906  .00106843  00000-0  21608-3 0    00
2 29651  58.4898 160.3690 0008009  84.4119 275.7892 15.98955224    06
Arc 2008 Jan 20.22 - 22.28, WRMS residuals = 0.016 deg

Early estimates being posted across Internet that it will decay around March 24, 2008 (+/- 2 weeks).  
I will probbaly enter into my copy of Nova for Windows -- so I can get orbital elemnt updates -- to where where it is passing over.

Greg
w9gb

Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:33:26 -0000
From: "GU6EFB" <gu6efb at cwgsy.net>
Subject: [amsat-bb]  Spy satellite  out of control
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>

Hi all

BBC News is reporting that large US spy satellite has gone out of control
and is expected to crash to earth next month and should impact the ground.

Get ready to duck.

73 Keith GU6EFB