[amsat-bb] AMSAT TLE Question

[Thomas Doyle]

I notice that the AMSAT TLE data file
(http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/keps/current/nasabare.txt)
uses what appears to be a "non-standard" format for the BSTAR drag
value in some of the satellites (currently RS-30 HO-68 and SRMSAT).

When the drag value is 0 the entry in the AMSAT files is 00000 0 rather than
the more "standard" 00000+0. A drag value of 0 is certainly a curiosity in
itself.

I realize that we live in a world where a "standard" 8 foot 2 x 4 is 8 feet
long but not
2 inches by 4 inches so there are possibly many "standards" for TLE data.

I solved the problem I was having by switching to
(http://www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/amateur.txt).
I am still curious as to why the AMSAT file is different. Does AMSAT get
their data
from a different source or did AMSAT create their own standard for
presenting the data.

thanks,  W9KE tom ...