Re: First Falcon start delayed



Andi Kleen wrote:
> "Allen Thomson" <thomsona@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
> > instructive. A vanilla sun-synch near-circular orbit at < 1000 km
> > altitude would indicate a normal imaging mission. A fairly
> > elliptical near-sun-synch orbit in the 116-117 degree inclination
> > range would be really interesting, as well as gratifying.

> In what way would it be interesting

It's consistent with the objectives of the 8X system
as stated back in the early-mid 1990s, whereas a more
standard spysat orbit isn't. Also, AFAIK, such an orbit
has never been used before by any satellite. Note that
an 8X, being a modification of the standard KH-11 design,
could operate in a standard orbit, but then it wouldn't
meet the original objectives.

> and gratifying?

I stumbled on the properties of such orbits about ten
years ago while trying to figure out how the various
things that had been said about 8X could be reconciled
with orbitological constraints.

.