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Conference 7.286::space

Title:	Space Exploration
Notice:	Shuttle launch schedules, see Note 6
Moderator:	PRAGMA::GRIFFIN

Created:	Mon Feb 17 1986
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	974
Total number of notes:	18843

481.0. "RADIOACTIVE SATELLITE" by PARITY::BIRO () Thu Oct 27 1988 09:02

    Can anyone help me identify or have any idea what TASS is taliking
    about???
    
    Oct 26 1988 TASS
    
    RADIOACTIVE SATELLITE IS LOOKED FOR IN THE PHILIPPINES
    
    the article goes on to say that the US is looking in the phillipines
    for a US spy satllite that was launch on March 13 1981 from
    Cape Canaveral and that had failed two years latter.  The
    satellite had instruments which afer five years time under the 
    impact of  water will start presenting a radiation danger.
    They quote NASA as saying one should be very careful and 
    should not touch the satellite, if it is found.
    
    I will search my satellite log to see what was launch
    on the 13th of March, but has anyone heard any more,
    and is the satellite truely radioactive or just an
    overstatement by TASS.
    
    jb

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
481.1	more	PARITY::BIRO		`Thu Oct 27 1988 09:09`	11
	I find no record of a satellite being launch on the 13 or Mar 1981 the only US satellite launch near that time is still in orbit, and there are no missing international # , so what gives. jb DATE # NAME NASA WHO LAUNCH DECAY 1981 023A SOYUZ T-04 12334 USSR 12 MAR 81 MAY 81 1981 024A COSMOS 1258 12337 USSR 14 MAR 81 MAR 81 1981 025A IMEWS 11 12339 US 16 MAR 81
481.2		STAR::HUGHES		`Thu Oct 27 1988 13:39`	3
	I'll see what I have. Is the IMEWS still in orbit? gary
481.3	IMEWS is in GEO	PARITY::BIRO		`Thu Oct 27 1988 15:45`	6
	IMEWS is a GEO bird, so it could not have deorbited in two years. There was and unidentified satellite launch by the US in March 13 of 1979 but it does not fit the case discribed. I think they may have pulled this one out of the Rabbit hat.
481.4	a Soviet satellite?	MPGS::EMMONS		`Fri Oct 28 1988 11:17`	13
	I am seem to recall hearing a little while back that a Soviet spy satellite would be returning to Earth "in the next thirty days." The story went on to indicate that the most likely loca- tions for for it to return were the Indian and Pacific oceans. Is it possible this is what TASS is referring to and has just changed pointed the finger at the US? Has anyone heard about the Soviet satellite returning to Earth? Ken
481.5	RE 481.4	MTWAIN::KLAES	Saturn by 1970	`Fri Oct 28 1988 11:43`	7
	That was COSMOS 1900. It successfully sent its nuclear reactor into a higher orbit earlier this month and the rest of the craft plunged itself into Earth's atmosphere, where it did no damage. Please see Topic 430 for more details on that satellite. Larry
481.6	Nothing found	PARITY::BIRO		`Mon Oct 31 1988 11:01`	7
	I also check out the IMEWS rocket booster, it decay soon after the launch. I also check out a knowledgeable source and he to said no US satellite was launch or decayed on that date. jb