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2\01 ISS On-Orbit Status, 01-02-2003
Part 2 of 2

Today's targets for the CEO (crew earth observations) program were 
Bangkok, Thailand (nadir pass; ESC [electronic still camera],) Dar es 
Salaam, Tanzania(nadir pass; ESC), Patagonian Glaciers (crew was to 
try for glacier tongues on the west side of the ice fields where 
glaciers come down to the Pacific Ocean), Congo basin (Dynamic event. 
Particularly clear weather as the ITC [Intertropical Convergence] 
cloud band lies far to the south.  Suggest basic mapping strips along 
the line of flight for this seldom viewed region. ISS passed over the 
vast Congo River [with black forest water], and then the Ubangui River 
[with a muddy look from the eroding savannas and desert margins that 
it drains]. Shooting somewhat left into partial sunglint gave the best 
results for the river patterns that are the major interest), Lagos, 
Nigeria (nadir view of the vast coastal city; ESC), and Eastern 
Mediterranean Dust (Sahara dust plumes moving into the Mediterranean 
across the Egyptian coast were expected as a storm approaches. Oblique 
views were best).

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 6:39am EST [= epoch]):
Mean altitude -- 387.4 km
Apogee -- 391.1 km
Perigee -- 383.7 km
Period -- 92.30 min.
Inclination (to Equator) -- 51.64 deg
Eccentricity -- 0.0005465
Orbits per 24-hr. day -- 15.60
Mean altitude loss in last 24 hours -- 250 m
Solar Beta Angle -- 12.2 deg (magnitude decreasing)
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. '98) -- 23968

For more on ISS orbit and worldwide naked-eye visibility dates/times, 
see http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html

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