Here is a sample pseudo-TLE that attempts to capture such a path - very much not a unique solution
1R61335U 13S33 13133.54200000 0.00000000 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 14
2R61335 31.9247 47.1509 8564868 16.7538 7.4862 2.89773317 1
This set would imply an apogee of about 32200 km
Here is a sample pseudo-TLE that attempts to capture such a path - very much not a unique solution
1R61335U 13S33 13133.54200000 0.00000000 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 14
2R61335 31.9247 47.1509 8564868 16.7538 7.4862 2.89773317 1
This set would imply an apogee of about 32200 km
Yes, which is a number I pulled out of my... well, let's just say I made it up entirely as a representation of "nearly geostationary" altitude.
I emphasize it's just meant as an illustration of the sort of path the probe might have taken, it's probably off from reality by thousands of km.
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?
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?
Sounding rockets can also be (and are often) multi stage vehicles.
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?
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.
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?
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.
Thanks. Just to explain when I imagine a sounding rocket in my head a certain type of vehicle first comes to mind & whatever completed this launch seemed more than that.
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.
Yes, that is very interesting. I've been studying it for a few weeks now and plan to publish something in the near future.
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.
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
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.
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
That would suggest that the system the NW pad was developed for has reached a level of maturity and is no longer tested on that pad.
Perhaps the new pad is for a rocket that has a different flight profile than the previous one, and thus requires a different pad orientation and layout.
My analysis of this launch was published last week:
http://swfound.org/media/167224/Through_a_Glass_Darkly_March2014.pdfMy overall conclusion (which should not be all that surprising to followers of this thread):
"While there is no conclusive proof, the available evidence strongly suggests that China’s May 2013 launch was the test of the rocket component of a new direct ascent ASAT weapons system derived from a road-mobile ballistic missile."
In the report I have commercial satellite imagery of Xichang from April 2013 that shows a TEL on that newly constructed mobile pad to the southeast of the main LM pad.