[time-nuts] time-nuts Digest, Vol 43, Issue 46

[Bruce Griffiths]

Kit Scally wrote:
> Paul,
>
> Sorry mate, this is still over my (our?) head(s)!!
> Is there something going on in our part of the world (Aust-NZ) we should
> know about?
>
> Kit
> VK2LL 
>
>   
Kit

The defunct spy satellite is to be shot down to land in the Pacific from 
a mobile ASAT launch platform (aircraft??).

Presumably the launch platform uses GPS for positioning, the ASAT device 
may also.

Currently SVN23 PRN32 is over the Pacific from around 1800 UTC.

Assuming they launch from over the Pacific in daylight SVN23 using PRN32 
may be selected by the launcher's GPS navigation system and if there is 
a software problem with PRN32 there is the potential for an inaccurate 
launcher position at launch. Shouldnt really happen with a military GPS 
but to be safe they probably dont want to declare SVN 23 healthy until 
the errant satellite has been brought down.

A pity since at the proposed activation time (and for several hours 
after) for SV23 it was ideally placed for testing GPS receiver response 
to its activation from Australia/NZ.

Bruce