ALE-1

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10-day predictions
ALE-1 is classified as:

Space & Earth Science

NORAD ID: 43938

Int'l Code: 2019-003G

Perigee: 468.2 km

Apogee: 495.0 km

Inclination: 97.2 °

Period: 94.1 minutes

Semi major axis: 6852 km

RCS: Unknown

Launch date: January 18, 2019
Source: Japan (JPN)
Launch site: KAGOSHIMA SPACE CENTER UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO (KSCUT)

ALE-1 is the first of two satellites launching this year developed by Astro Live Experiences, a privately-funded Japanese venture that aimed to create artificial "meteor showers" by releasing half-inch (1-centimeter) pellets to re-enter the atmosphere. By early 2020, the 150-pound (68-kilogram) ALE-1 satellite planned to use a drag-inducing mechanism to maneuver to an orbit low enough to ensure the particles safely re-enter the atmosphere, and don’t become space junk. However one of the parts that was supposed to launch the particles is not moving properly and that it cannot get back to its designated position. This means that the launch action cannot initiate, and it is not possible to transition to the release action.

1 43938U 19003G   21294.37834356  .00009392  00000-0  31955-3 0  9996
2 43938  97.1766 334.7261 0019502 285.1857  74.7228 15.30452928153541

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC