🚀 go-pugleaf

>|I'm looking for a '2-line orbital elements list' of junk, i.e. deceased
>|satellites, rocket-bodies and other debris that is still in orbit.
>|I have one very old list, but where could I get a list that is up to
>|date? (I don't know from where I got the list I have)
>|
>Two-line orbital elements for **every unclassified object in orbit**
>are available on the Reports and Information Dissemination Remote
>Bulletin Board System by modem. Phone (301) 306-0010.
>-- 
>Bruce Watson (wats@scicom) Bulletin 629-49 Item 6700 Extract 75,131

Sorry Bruce, thanks for playing.  Seeing how _I_ work with the entire
satcat on a daily basis, I must inform you that the Unclass elsets that are
found at this BBS cannot be the entire list.  That's right, you are not
allowed to know about ALL the Unclass birds (or pieces thereof).  For 
example, a piece of (or whole for that matter) R/B of a Class sat can
sometimes be classified as Unclass.  However, with a little bit of work, I
can find out the Classified payload's elset by looking at the R/B's orbit.
Simple.  Also, there are a number of Unclass rekkie birds out there...but
with a little history file, you can easily find out where it was looking
at at a certain time (especially if we maneuvered it over to get a better
shot).

HOWEVER!  Most pieces of space debris are legit Unclass objects with no
interest to anyone save the debris community (my guys).  Therefore, 
(no exact figures allowed, sorry) "a large majority" of debris pieces are
probably at the above site (which I imagine gets its info from NASA...which
is where the best civilian (public domain) Unclass satcat can be found).
I highly doubt it is the same satcat I get that is pumped out of the Mountain.

Note to all!  The more people studying orbital debris, the better.  It is
a real problem, but without more public support, the issue will not become
"important" until a satellite gets clobbered.

			Enjoy,
					Fuzzy.
==============================================================================
_ __/|       | Lt. David "Fuzzy" Wells | "There's always an easy solution to
\'o.O'       |    HQ AFSPACECOM/CNA    |  every human problem...           
=(___)=      |    Space Debris Guru    |       ...neat, plausible, and wrong." 
   U  ...ack!| wdwells@esprit.uccs.edu |                      H.L. MENCKEN
==============================================================================

BTW: I cannot give out Unclass elset files except to government agencies via
a written request.  Even this is subject to approval.  Sorry.  I highly
recommend using NASA's satcat (found at your favorite astro BBS or ftp site).