Tracking CZ-2C rocket bodies with NORMAL laser

[ZhipengLiang]

The Changchun Observatory has been tracking the CZ-2C rocket bodies for a whole year, using the normal picosecond KHz laser, along with normal ILRS missions, but with TLE prediction. The Graz people also has found reflective CZ R/B(s) earlier this year, but we are not sure how they are progressing.

We are planning to track other R/B's, of which the number is huge. So we need you to join up.

Below is the list of R/B target already tracked by SLR. Newly joining stations shall try with them.
========================
TLE#          First tracked by
----------------------------------
 28480         Changchun7237
 31114         Changchun7237
 38253         Graz7839
========================

Based on our space debris tracking campaign in 2014, below is other R/Bs that would hopefully carry reflector(s). But we haven't tried them.

========================
TLE# , Intl.Designater , Object Type
--------------------------------------------
25400  1998-043G   SL-16 R/B
22220  1992-076B   SL-16 R/B
12988  1981-117B   SL-14 R/B
28222  2004-012C   CZ-2C R/B
25723  1999-022C   SL-8 R/B
23343  1994-074B   SL-16 R/B
20671  1990-057B   SL-14 R/B
13771  1983-003B   SL-3 R/B
11327  1979-030B   SL-8 R/B
11267  1979-011B   SL-14 R/B
13121  1982-027B   SL-3 R/B
12904  1981-103B   SL-3 R/B
19275  1988-056B   SL-14 R/B
17912  1987-038B   SL-14 R/B
37932  2011-068C   CZ-2D R/B
22784  1993-055C   SL-14 R/B
========================

If any more you would like to know about this topic, please reply or message me.

[Pawel Lejba]

Hi,
Dear Zhipeng,

Borowiec tracks regulary (since January 1, 2017) two CZ2C targets, 28480 and 31114. They give us very interesting results.

Kind regards,
Pawel

[ZhipengLiang]

Hi,
Dear Zhipeng,

Borowiec tracks regulary (since January 1, 2017) two CZ2C targets, 28480 and 31114. They give us very interesting results.

Kind regards,
Pawel

I am very happy to hear that. And I have good news that Changchun's historical data about these two targets are now disclosed. You can access them with the following FTP server:


IP address: [210.72.87.239]
user: laserspinrb              password: Pa55w0rd_2017                     access: read only


For now both targets' normal point data till April 2017 are online. For fullrate data, I still have problem in preserving multiple reflection patterns. Any help is welcome.

The access is now read-only. May make it read-write access or even move to sddis, if people are interested.

[Sven Bauer POT3]

Dear Zhipeng,

what is the per pulse energy of the laser you used for the tracking of the rocket bodies?

Thanks and best

Sven

[ZhipengLiang]

Dear Zhipeng,

what is the per pulse energy of the laser you used for the tracking of the rocket bodies?

Thanks and best

Sven

Hi Sven,

It's our normal SLR laser, with 1mJ pulse energy and 1kHz repetition rate, making 1W laser power. I think other high rate station could do it as well or better.

Regards,
Zhipeng