Author Topic: Chuang Xin-3, Shiyan-7 and Shijian-15; Long March 4C; TSLC - July 19, 2013  (Read 75151 times)

Offline Liss

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The recent CAST launch history is saying that SY-7 consits of two separate payloads SY-7A and SY-7B. Could it be that Object A and the separated Object J represent those pair? What do we know about the movement of Object J?
I believe this is the case. Multiple separations/dockings had been assumed in different orbits (SY-7A performed small maneuvers herself) but the two always remained in close proximity (less the 5 km I beieve).
« Last Edit: 06/11/2016 05:14 am by Liss »
This message reflects my personal opinion based on open sources of information.

Offline Phillip Clark

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I have started to try and make sense of the objects from the 2013-037 launch, and I am attaching a graph which shows the evolution of the orbital periods for the four objects which we believe to be payloads.   However, which payload is which is open to debate.

Object B/39209 has performed no orbital manoeuvres and therefore I think it is safe to say that this is the small comsat, Chuangxin 3.

Object A/39209 has performed some fairly minor orbital manoeuvres and I would suggest that this is Shijian 15.

Object J/39357 appeared in orbit after the others and therefore it should be safe to say that this is Shiyan Weixing 7B.   It has closely followed the orbit of the presumed Shijian 15.

Finally, object C/39210 should therefore be Shiyan Weixing 7A which as been wandering around, including a visit or two to Shijian 7.

Are we agreed on this?   Maybe everyone is already agreed, of course!


Addendum.   I have attached a much higher resolution graph for objects A and J.   Would it be a totally crazy idea to suggest that the remote manipulator might be on 7B and that is now attached to Shijian 15?   Their orbits are extremely close and analysis suggests that you cannot calculate satellite altitudes using the Two-Lines with an accuracy of less than 1km at best.   Alternatively they could just be very close to each other indeed but not attached, but if that had been the case I would have thought they would have drifted apart in the last year.

« Last Edit: 06/16/2016 09:36 am by Phillip Clark »
I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane - WJ.

Offline Liss

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Philip,

My educated guess on who is who in 2013-037 is as follows:

2013-037A = 39208 = Tansuo-4A = Shiyan-7A with the manipulator
2013-037J = 39357 = Tansuo-4B = Shiyan-7B as a test object for manipulator testing
2013-037C = 39210 = Tansuo-5 = Shijian-15, a long-living manoeuverable inspector bird
2013-037B = 39209 = Tansuo-3 = Chuangxin-3 which is not a comsat but a MSX-type satellite observer

Igor
This message reflects my personal opinion based on open sources of information.

Offline Phillip Clark

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Philip,
My educated guess on who is who in 2013-037 is as follows:
2013-037A = 39208 = Tansuo-4A = Shiyan-7A with the manipulator
2013-037J = 39357 = Tansuo-4B = Shiyan-7B as a test object for manipulator testing
2013-037C = 39210 = Tansuo-5 = Shijian-15, a long-living manoeuverable inspector bird
2013-037B = 39209 = Tansuo-3 = Chuangxin-3 which is not a comsat but a MSX-type satellite observer
Igor

So this would mean that Shijian 15 is the inspector satellite, while undertaking "earthquake research" or whatever.   OK, I can live with that!   I had got the idea that Shiyan Weixing 7A had been the inspector bird.   I guess my brain needs a holiday if I am mixing things up like that!
I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane - WJ.

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