Satellite observing endangered by US Gov regulation!!!

I've been viewing satellite passes in the night sky for several years now. THere are some web sites that provide information, and even PDA programs that do it for you. All depend on NORAD data refered to as "Two Line Elements" or TLEs. Thanks to a new law, users will no longer be able to redistribute this data without explicit permission from the Secretary of Defense. Existing data sources will end 31-Mar-2005.

I don't know if they are going to organize a letter writing campaign to congress or what. Refer to

formatting link
more information.

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

Reply to
Bob Kaplow
Loading thread data ...

This outrage presupposes that private individuals or terrorist groups are equal to the amazingly difficult challenge of producing a viable anti-satellite weapon system.

Crap, the US DoD only ever had one really effective system I can think of - and it was based on using nukes to do the dirty work - which isn't exactly kind to 'friendly' satellites that might happen to be close by.

Your tax dollars at work.

Reply to
<mark.johnson

I thought they had some air-launched system using the F15...or was that a Dirk Pitt novel?

fuzzy fuzzy

Reply to
Tweak

Actually, it was in a Tom Clancy novel, "Red Storm Rising".

-dave w

Reply to
David Weinshenker

ASAT was launched from an F-15.

formatting link
Bill Sullivan "Stupidity has a certain charm - ignorance does not" - Frank Zappa

Reply to
The Rocket Scientist

The way you piss off the Muslem types, is you post an orbital Billboard with a high percentage of time over Mecca.

iPod? MotorolaCellular?

Jerry

"IBM is made in Malaysia"

Reply to
Jerry Irvine

totally un-enforceable law, if web site is "Offshore" they can't do a blasted thing, or are they going to shut down NASA too?

Reply to
starlord

Yes, it was/is a air launched anti satellite missile. Don't recall it's name thought.

Reply to
Dave Grayvis

I've enjoyed watching satellites since Echo & Telstar. We're getting old Bob. ; )

Randy

Reply to
<randyolb

The site I get my ready-for-PDA-downloading TLEs from is in Italy, and they too have a notice that the data will cease as of 31-Mar...

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

Reply to
Bob Kaplow

Wow, Bob

while playing with rockets, they have also attacked the Ham Radio hobby behind my back as well.

I've been a ham radio satellite operator, and while my satellite radio has sat idle for 3 years, theve been taking away a key element (pun) needed to work the ham sats.

I went over to the amsat.org, and it looks like they are telling members that they are trying to talk to the airforce about their new website and tell the members the key word is Patience. I've heard that way too long in rocketry.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------- Keplerian Data Update

Ray Hoad, WA5QGD has been in e-mail contact with the new Air Force Space Command keplerian element web site concerning the transition from the old Orbital Information Group (OIG) web site. Air Force Space Command is currently considering how to administer the new web site. They have advised that no time line for a decision has been determined as yet. For the time being, Ray will await their decision and provide updates as he receives information. Patience is the keyword here. [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD for the above information]

Reply to
AlMax

Duh. I'm going to ask for a capsule summary for those of us who aren't involved in astronomy or ham radio. What are they trying to prevent people from DOING?

To me it sounds like the feds < may > not be giving out the co-ordinates for satellites anymore - inconvenient for astronomers who have fun observing them, and for ham operators who presumably receive some kind of transmission from them - correct?

Wouldn't any entity willing and able to use this information maliciously (shoot down a satellite? Block its transmissions?) ALSO be able to find the darned things themselves?

Reply to
Scott Schuckert

Hams either use the Elements to find a ham satalite to Talk/Listen with as a repeater, see

formatting link
about the globe on a 2 meters/440 hand held, see the new echo sat info at AmSat.

or they listen to transmissions from weather sats and other scientific sats for education, and pass that education on to pre, middle, high, and college students.

Military sats already are encrypted so they can't be listened too, and their TLEs (elements) are mostly false anyway to obficate their wareabouts.

So, what are they hiding and why now ?

Reply to
AlMax

More...

Back in the 80s , a video pirate blocked HBOs sat transmissions and inserted his own message. that lasted only a short while, while HBO 'shuttered' his uplink out.

with that 80s lesson in place, I don't think anyone self respecting has a sat upstairs that is worth real economic or military value that can be blocked without some counter measure they can use, like HBO did with shuttering.

if so, then shame on them, as the way to take over HBOs sat in the 80s has been long talked about for decades.

but then, hey, in network security, no one seems to learn lessons......... ;-0

Reply to
AlMax

Well, I've now come to figure it all out.

Space-Track wants to know all about you before giving you information to the TLEs.

You must give all Personal Identifying Info to space track and they will determine if you 'are worthy' to get an account. We will see if they grant my corporate account missing my personal info, I doubt it.

this is just another database harvesting being sponsored by the government.

nothing to see here Folks , carry on.

Reply to
AlMax

Shouldn't we all apply then, just to churn their surveillance? (Sort of like making a point of reading all the books on explosives in the library...)

-dave w

Reply to
David Weinshenker

Bob, that is interesting info and I had not heard it before. Are you receiving your Keplerian elements from AMSAT? If not, you may want to check out

formatting link
I checked the AMSAT web site and could not find any reference to the data becoming restricted, but if it does there will be plenty of radio amateurs (including me) with their knickers in a twist!

Reply to
Tad Danley

Bob, that is interesting info and I had not heard it before. Are you receiving your Keplerian elements from AMSAT? If not, you may want to check out

formatting link
I checked the AMSAT web site and could not find any reference to the data becoming restricted, but if it does there will be plenty of radio amateurs (including me) with their knickers in a twist!

Reply to
Tad Danley

Bob, I did some more checking on the AMSAT site and found this news - check out the second item:

formatting link
Thanks for the heads up!

Reply to
Tad Danley

Even if I were to apply and get approved, what they distribute isn't what I need. A guy over in Italy maintains a web site with all of Dr Kelsos lists reformatted for use on the PDA, to go with various PalmOS software. THis change means that every user of specialized format data will need to do their own reformatting, requiring tools that they don't have.

BTW, doesn't my GPS download this same information from the satellite constellation to use in locating the navigation satellites? Will using a GPS now be a violation of the law>

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

Reply to
Bob Kaplow

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.