Here is a sample pseudo-TLE that attempts to capture such a path - very much not a unique solution1R61335U 13S33 13133.54200000 0.00000000 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 142R61335 31.9247 47.1509 8564868 16.7538 7.4862 2.89773317 1
Quote from: jcm on 05/16/2013 02:28 amHere is a sample pseudo-TLE that attempts to capture such a path - very much not a unique solution1R61335U 13S33 13133.54200000 0.00000000 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 142R61335 31.9247 47.1509 8564868 16.7538 7.4862 2.89773317 1This set would imply an apogee of about 32200 km
Jonathan: here is a Xin Hua report quoting your views:http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2013-05/17/c_124725806.htm (in Chinese)
Just one quick question why is this being described as a 'sounding rocket', it's clearly more than that, reading this thread it was clearly a staged vehicle so the use of the term 'sounding rocket' seems wrong to me?
Quote from: input~2 on 05/17/2013 04:50 pmJonathan: here is a Xin Hua report quoting your views:http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2013-05/17/c_124725806.htm (in Chinese)Welcome to the club, Jonathan :-)
Quote from: Star One on 05/17/2013 08:49 pmJust one quick question why is this being described as a 'sounding rocket', it's clearly more than that, reading this thread it was clearly a staged vehicle so the use of the term 'sounding rocket' seems wrong to me?Sounding rockets can also be (and are often) multi stage vehicles.
Quote from: Skyrocket on 05/17/2013 09:51 pmQuote from: Star One on 05/17/2013 08:49 pmJust one quick question why is this being described as a 'sounding rocket', it's clearly more than that, reading this thread it was clearly a staged vehicle so the use of the term 'sounding rocket' seems wrong to me?Sounding rockets can also be (and are often) multi stage vehicles.I agree. In general 'sounding rocket' has historically been broadly used for any suborbital vehicle for scientific, technology test or other vaguely research oriented purpose. Early sounding rockets included four and five stage vehicles like Strongarm. The Oriole XII is a 4 stage rocket. As often in English we can distinguish multiple meanings of the phrase.1) Sounding rocket, n. : (type of rocket flight) a rocket launched on a suborbital trajectory with a research payload. Distinguished from a missile test or satellite launch. Sometimes includes meteorological rockets.2) Sounding rocket, n.: (type of rocket vehicle) - a rocket vehicle used mainly for sounding launches, i.e. suborbital research launches. Usually composed of smaller diameter stages than a satellite launch vehicle or long range ballistic missile. But there have been satellite launch vehicles like Lambda-4S that were physically like sounding rockets.
A new launch area at XSLC suitable for mobile launchers is visible south east of launch pad 2 and 3. It seems to be built between 2011 and 2012. The attached image was taken on May 21 2013 and can be seen at Google Earth when activating historical images. Note the vehicle tracks.
Quote from: limen4 on 10/19/2013 07:38 pmA new launch area at XSLC suitable for mobile launchers is visible south east of launch pad 2 and 3. It seems to be built between 2011 and 2012. The attached image was taken on May 21 2013 and can be seen at Google Earth when activating historical images. Note the vehicle tracks.I wonder why they would need to create this when a mobile launcher pad already existed at the north end of the site? It is interesting that the original mobile pad seems to look somewhat derelict in recent images, with "stuff" kind of piling up there, bone yard fashion. - Ed Kyle