On 1/12/2021 05:19, Mark Jessop wrote:
Just wondering if any of the team from FOX-1E would be able to share any preliminary TLEs for the upcoming launch, if they have any? This will help us schedule up observations on the SatNOGS network (and of course help other listeners too!).
Post-deployment TLEs or state vectors (once they are available) would also be very useful!
Hi Mark,
I would like to provide you and everyone else the pre-launch information that we have. The fact is that what we do have is useful for generating TLE but even now there is some uncertainty or perhaps I should say inaccuracy. I hope that we will get updated info when launch is settled.
BUT... (the big eraser)
I am constrained (AMSAT) in divulging any information about the launch, per our contract/agreements with Virgin Orbit, TriSept, and NASA. That is nothing new, I think you'd have to go back several years to find the last time things weren't held so close. That means that whatever we have I cannot "make it public" until the launch vehicle provider (they always seem to be the head honcho in controlling info) lets TriSept/NASA know and TriSept/NASA lets me know that whatever information is now approved for us to release to the public. That may some times and more often than not with VO, as you have seen their tweets about the launch, come before anything we are given blessing to say. I watch VO tweets just to keep up with what we can expect.
I always ask when we are given info in fact that is to the extent that it is now the norm for NASA to include "this information [is/is not] public and it saves me and them a couple of emails. I would sure like to share whatever I know all along but I'm good with their rules and learned that the hard way with Fox-1A and a few reminders along the Fox trail to this launch. The bottom line then, is that I/AMSAT would be acting in a very irresponsible way to do something like this and spoil the relationships we have built along the way and that have brought us some great opportunities in the space game to do so. Not to mention whatever penalties might arise from a contract violation, if we really teed them off.
I would urge everyone to follow VO tweets and on launch day watch the nasabare.txt TLE just prior to launch, maybe 30 minutes after launch (I have no idea what or when the deploy ballet will be after they get to orbit), and maybe 15 minutes after we are deployed. Follow AMSAT as well, me too as I like to scoop Paul/Robert now and then and let them retweet me, and watch -bb too. You can be really busy like I will! hihi Of course if you don't see anything at the intervals I suggested, add 15 minutes to them and try again on the nasabare elements. I don't think anyone will crash the server but Joe F. can speak to that if he has another preference for hitting up for nasabare.
Whatever transpires we sure want to do everything we can so that everyone can have the elements ASAP to help catch "First (digital) Veronica" and win a special QSL card, in addition to making a bunch of Engineers happy. It's all ham radio but I have to do it in the framework of the modern era of space business.
Also, I understand that VO intends to use Twitter primarily, for their public launch activity portal. That may change or may have changed already, just throwing that in FAYI. (For All Y'alls Information)
73
Jerry Buxton, NØJY