Quote from: input~2 on 05/02/2012 06:09 amAFAIU, CALT calls the SPELDA-like adaptor "dual satellite connecting external support structure" (双星串联外支撑结构) could be abbreviated as "DSCESS"(source)I'm not sure about the translation of 串联 (chuanlian) - possibly "serial" as opposed to "parallel" ? I get 'shuanxing chuanlian wai zhicheng jiegou' (SCWZJ) if you want to play that game (or if we are going to copy SPELDA, perhaps we should use French..)
AFAIU, CALT calls the SPELDA-like adaptor "dual satellite connecting external support structure" (双星串联外支撑结构) could be abbreviated as "DSCESS"(source)
USSTRATCOM has now identified the 4 objects as:38250/2012-018A BEIDOU M3 38251/2012-018B BEIDOU M4 38252/2012-018C CZ-3B R/B (ie 3rd stage) 38253/2012-018D CZ-3B DEB (ie adaptor) The 3rd stage's radar cross section is said to be 3.415mē much less than that of the adaptor at 7.7509mē ; this is surprising when looking at the respective size of the 2 objects
Status of the constellation presented in June 2012
Quote from: input~2 on 05/11/2012 06:15 pmUSSTRATCOM has now identified the 4 objects as:38250/2012-018A BEIDOU M3 38251/2012-018B BEIDOU M4 38252/2012-018C CZ-3B R/B (ie 3rd stage) 38253/2012-018D CZ-3B DEB (ie adaptor) The 3rd stage's radar cross section is said to be 3.415mē much less than that of the adaptor at 7.7509mē ; this is surprising when looking at the respective size of the 2 objects USSTRATCOM has now switched Objects C and D, but the RCS order remains the same (35.3mē for the adaptor, 2.5mē for the 3rd stage)