[FPSPACE] Bei Dou Locations

[Phillip Clark]

Following my posting to HEARSAT correcting the launch details for Bei Dou
2, some thoughts on where the satellite might be located.

Aviation Week published some speculations from Leeds University a few
weeks ago, suggesting that a second Bei Dou would be located over 70 deg
E.   I believe that this speculation is incorrect.

Bei Dou 1 is located over 140 deg E and this is a unique Chinese
registration for Chinasat-32 (many Chinese locations are registered with
more than one designator: 140 deg E has only this
designator).   Therefore, I believe that the two other Chinasat-3x
locations will also be used by Bei Dou satellites: Chinasat-31 is
registered for 80 deg E and Chinasat-33 at 110.5 deg E.   Therefore,
either of these two locations are candidates for the Bei Dou 2 (or is it
actually 1B as USSPACECOM is calling it ?).

Also note that the Chinese have talked about launching four Bei Dou
satellites with one an in-orbit spare: so, three prime locations.

I would guess that 80 deg E will be used because at present the Chinese
have a communications satellite over 110.5 deg E, while 80 deg E has
nothing Chinese.   We shall see, but certainly I will be more than a
little amazed if Aviation Week's report of 70 deg E turns out to be
correct.

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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