[FPSPACE] Buran.Ru news - Polyus vs Mir-2

[Phillip Clark]

On Fri, 15 Dec 2000, Geert Sassen wrote:
> One more question: wasn't Polyus launched out of plane to the orbit of Mir
> (should it have reached orbit)?

I have not done any orbital _plane_ calculations for this, but Soviet
statements after the event said that Polyus was due to fly at 65 deg
inclination.

Of course, since Mir is at 51.6 deg this means that there was never any
plan for the craft to rendezvous - other than a quick fly-by near the
relative nodal points of the two orbits.

Phillip Clark

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Phillip S Clark                                     22 Winterbourne Close
Molniya Space Consultancy                           Hastings
Compiler/Publisher, Worldwide Satellite Launches    E Sussex  TN34 1XG
                                                    U.K.

Specialist in "space archeology" - the older and more obscure the more 
interesting it is !
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