[FPSPACE] Was Polyus Tracked by NORAD?

[Kosmos327 at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/15/2004 2:43:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
thomsona at flash.net writes:

> As for whether the black paint was meant for stealth, I doubt it -- that's
> not a good way to do stealth -- but who knows?


  The general "theory" is that the black was some type of stealth coating and 
not just paint. I personally don't buy this and tend to think it was to 
reduce "light pollution" during certain sensitive test. Still, it is very 
interesting that out of all the spacecraft ever launched, this one would be black with 
BIG shiny silver letters. Perhaps the letters themselves against the black 
were for some sort of "visual sighting" test. Perhaps, if this was a test of some 
type of stealth coating, the letters were temporary and designed to come of 
during the ascent.

  One thing is certain ... until we know more about Polyus, we will have to 
rely on our guesses!

  David
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: /pipermail/attachments/20040415/ff464ff3/attachment.htm