Conference 7.286::space

428.0. "NASA Prediction Bulletin" by SASE::BIRO () Tue May 03 1988 08:36

    Have you notice the NASA Prediction Bulletin Formats has changed!
    

The first line has more information, including both the
NASA OBJ number and the  International Designator. 

The second line now include the Internation Designator and
zero fill unused fields, this is not new  but it was not 
previously implemented.
    
    this may affect anyone using computer conversion programs
    from nasa sets to what is need for your program.

    for example
 
old===========================================================================
 
BLTN  170 ELEM  170 OBJ 16609
1 16609U          88117.00000000 +.00024167                     01700
2 16609 051.6227 335.5914 0023646 255.0902 242.8992 15.74620963125604
end old=======================================================================
 
new===========================================================================
 
BLTN 170 ELEM 170 OBJ 16609  86 017  A : IN 3 PARTS PART I
1 16609U 86017  A 88117.00000000 +.00024167  00000-0 +00000-0 0 01700
2 16609 051.6227 335.5914 0023646 255.0902 242.8992 15.74620963125604
end new=======================================================================

    the spec for Line 2 did reserve the place for the International
    designator but it had not been used
    
Line 2
Column     Description
 10-11     International Designator (Last two digits of launch year)
 12-14     International Designator (Launch number of the year)
 15-17     International Designator (Piece of launch)