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USA 193, we barely knew you...

KMZ Updated with Ted Molczan's multi-pass data.

With the upcoming shootdown of the USA-193 spy satellite, the following was distributed today:

PHZH HONOLULU CONTROL FACILITY

02/062 (A0038/08) - AIRSPACE CARF NR. 90 ON EVELYN STATIONARY RESERVATION WITHIN AN AREA BNDD BY 3145N 17012W 2824N 16642W 2352N 16317W 1909N 16129W 1241N 16129W 1239N 16532W 1842N 17057W 2031N 17230W 2703N 17206W SFC-UNL. 21 FEB 02:30 2008 UNTIL 21 FEB 05:00 2008. CREATED: 18 FEB 12:51 2008

I've attached a .KMZ file that shows a plot of these locations...

Many thanks to Ted Molczan for the original post and the plot from which this .KMZ was created.

An Updated NOTAM has been issued:

John Locker posts on SeeSat-L: New NOTAM issued for the same period 24 hours later.....similar track...similar acquisition time so they have ignored the 1330 GMT shot and are keeping daylight attempts.

02/067 (A0708/08) - AIRSPACE STATIONARY RESERVATION WITHIN AN AREA BNDD BY 3145N/17012W 2824N/16642W 2352N/16317W 1909N/16129W 1241N/16129W 1239N/16532W 1842N/17057W 2031N/17230W 2703N/17206W SFC-UNL. 22 FEB 02:30 2008 UNTIL 22 FEB 05:00 2008. CREATED: 19 FEB 12:30 2008

KMZ file also updated with new NOTAM.

Robert Christy has posted a fantastic writeup including additional tracking information on his site.

On 2/20, Ted provided the following update:

The NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) has issued a Broadcast Warning (the maritime version of a NOTAM) for Feb 21 UTC, and the alternate days, Feb 22 - 25 UTC. (Text appended.)

http://www.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/MISC/warn/dm_p.html

The time period each day is 02:30 - 05:00 UTC.

The restricted zone is the same for all days, and is identical to that of the
NOTAMs issued to-date.

I have updated my chart to include the new information:

http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/06057A/USA_193_NOTAM_Feb_21-25_UTC.pdf

I believe it is now clear that the first attempt to destroy USA 193 is planned for 2008 Feb 21 UTC, at the time when USA 193 arrives in the area, shortly before 03:30 UTC. In North America's eastern time-zone, this corresponds to Feb 20 at 10:30 PM EST. In Hawaii, the local time will be Feb 20, 05:30 PM.

USA 193 arrives 9 min earlier each, and about 3.5 deg further west.

Ted Molczan

NAVAREA XII 52/2008(19,83). NORTH PACIFIC. HAWAII. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 210230Z TO 210500Z FEB, ALTERNATE 220230Z TO 220500Z, 230230Z TO 230500Z, 240230Z TO 240500Z AND 250230Z TO 250500Z FEB IN AREA BOUND BY 31-45N 170-12W, 28-24N 166-42W, 23-52N 163-17W, 19-09N 161-29W, 12-41N 161-29W, 12-39N 165-32W, 18-42N 170-57W, 20-31N 172-30W, 27-03N 172-06W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 250600Z FEB.

 

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Canadians, Get Your Hardhats Out!!!
from Random Thoughts of an Engineer on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 19:51

Found these articles about an attempt by the US Navy at shooting down a satellite on Wednesday.  It looks to “take the bullet” somewhere over the skies around Hawaii, but the satellite will actually fall into the atmosphere over Canada.
ht...

lost on the FAA's web page

I just checked the FAA's NOTAMs on the web, and I was not able to find any mention of this TFR. Either the information is not being published where I expected it, or I don't know what I am doing (a likely case). Perhaps it's because it's in "international waters", and not directly over US controlled airspace. Admittedly, I did not actually call a flight service station and talk to a briefer.

  • By Alan Porter (not verified) at 02/19/2008 - 10:37
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How-To DoD NOTAMs from Ralph McConahy

Scroll about half-way down to the Geographical Radius Search section.
In the right side, enter 22° for N-Lat, 167° for W-Lon (also, you must enter a zero for minutes for Lat & Lon), and 250 NM radius.
Then click the View NOTAMs button.
Only two NOTAMs will show up (there was only one yesterday...)
  • By Alan at 02/19/2008 - 15:10
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USA-193 shoot and the SBX radar

This looks like a reasonable geometry - factor in too the positioning of the Sea-based X-band radar platform per this NOTAM:

A0601/08 - QXXXX SBX-1, A SURFACE VESSEL TESTING A HIGH POWERED X BAND RADAR SYSTEM WILL BE OPERATING IN THE VICINITY OF 2700N/16300W. THE VESSEL ALSO HAS A SEARCH RADAR ON BOARD FOR DETECTING AIRCRAFT WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 81NM OF THE VESSEL. IF AIRCRAFT ARE DETECTED WITHIN 8.5 NM OF THE VESSEL TESTING OF THE HIGH POWERED RADAR SYSTEM WILL BE SUSPENDED. WIE UNTIL 05 MAR 23:59 2008. CREATED: 11 FEB 13:55 2008

Perfectly placed downrange and a bit to one side to allow confirming the hit and getting an initial track on resulting debris.

  • By Jim Bedient (not verified) at 02/19/2008 - 18:15
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SBX-1 added back to the KMZ

The SBX-1 WAS in the area.

I've added its (approximate) location to the .KMZ file.
  • By Alan at 02/19/2008 - 19:29
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Civilian NOTAMs

Go to (accept the certificate):

https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/distribution/atcscc.html

Click the "Center NOTAMs" (second from left) tab

Click the box for "ZHN (PHZH) Honolulu,HI"

Click the (View...) button below of your choice (quickest is "View CARF NOTAMs Only")

Select the ones you want to view

  • By SpaceMan (not verified) at 02/20/2008 - 00:21
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