(meteorobs) The plot thickens! Progress M-56 debris? (Re: Strange event )

[Mikhail Maslov]

Hello,

I observed this Progress just after it was launched on April 24. It
appeared 9 minutes after scheduled start time and looked for unaided
eye like a foggy object, fast moving in eastern direction. In
binoculars I saw glowing comet-like trail of hot air, spreading out of just
shut off jets.

Best regards, Mikhail


ML> Okay Javor!

ML> I am beginning to believe this was a re-entry after all, of material connected
ML> to the Progress M-56 launch to ISS that same day at 16:03 UTC from Baykonur.

ML> I fitted a circular geocentric orbit to one of the trails your reported (with
ML> thanks to the software SATFIT of Scott Campbell). This gives an orbit at roughly
ML> 175 km altitude (close to decay altitudes certainly if we allow for that it was
ML> probably not nicely circular in reality).

ML> The resulting orbit has an inclination of 50.8 degrees, which is very close to
ML> the typical plane of the ISS and Progress supply missions. Its period is appr.
ML> 88 minutes.

ML> Progress M-56 was launched at 16:03 UTC. An object in the orbit I fitted
ML> strongly resembles an object coming from Baykonur at 16:03 UTC, decaying just
ML> before the end of its 2nd revolution.

ML> - Marco

ML> -----
ML> Dr Marco Langbroek  -  SatTrackCam Leiden, Cospar 4353
ML> Leiden, the Netherlands. 52.15412 N,  4.49081 E (WGS84), +0 m ASL

ML> SatTrackCam: http://home.wanadoo.nl/marco.langbroek/satcam.html
ML> Station (b)log: http://sattrackcam.blogspot.com
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ML> e-mail: sattrackcam at wanadoo.nl
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