[FPSPACE] Aviation Week...........COSMOS 2441

[John Locker]

Hi all ,



There's a great piece on the Aviation Week website 
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/PERS07298.xml&headline=Russia%20Launches%20Persona%20Milsat&channel=comm

by Craig Cavault about the recent launch.

In it Craig describes the satellite as having a span of 45 feet and length 
27 feet.
Now I'm worried..... !
The images I took the other night  in no way show a spacecraft with wings 
exteneded , or indeed having a span of 45 feet ( 15m )
The object I imaged  could I suppose show the panels "tucked" either side 
the tube , yet to be unfolded , but that seems unlikely.
(Compare the image to those of IGS 1B at the top of the page....IGS was 
twice the range , but the panels showed up clearly....and COSMOS was quite 
well illuminated )

So , question is , what did I image.????
Could Object "B" be the actual payload ? ( I did notice that naked eye the 
lower elevation pass of "B" ( 40 degs) did seem a little brighter than "A" 
even though it was predicted to be of lower value ( "A" was predicted 1.5m 
,  "B"  2.3m )

If anyone gets chance to observe these two objects I would appreciate a 
second opinion.



Many thanks

John

http://satcom.website.orange.co.uk/