"Pseudo-MPEC" for 2018-045D = NORAD 43473 = Queqiao booster
Created 2018 May 28 17:23:31 UT using Find_Orb
Click here for an explanation of pseudo-MPECs
Click here for the pseudo-MPEC for the Queqiao payload
Click here for a more recent pseudo-MPEC for this booster, based on further observations of this object.
TLEs are available for this and other objects on these pages. Also, you can get ephems for this object from the Minor Planet Center's DASO Page.
With additional data, we have a well-defined lunar miss distance of 11931 +/- 1 km, as well as a good post-flyby geocentric orbit.. The new observations don't link well with the old observations; it's safe to assume that the booster released some leftover propellant. I won't be surprised if further observations show that we have to reject even more of the early observations.
You can click here for customized ephemerides for Queqiao, its booster, and some other objects, courtesy of the Minor Planet Center.
Astrometry: ZK1AE47 C2018 05 21.19239 11 33 48.28 -18 03 51.7 x13.0 GU 703 ZK1AE47 C2018 05 21.19772 11 34 20.49 -17 54 51.8 x12.9 GU 703 ZK1AE47 C2018 05 21.20304 11 34 52.20 -17 46 02.4 x13.0 GU 703 ZK1AE47 C2018 05 21.20837 11 35 23.56 -17 37 21.8 x13.0 GU 703 ZK1AE47 KC2018 05 21.92391112 25 39.65 -10 57 58.6 x15.3 G J95 ZK1AE47 KC2018 05 21.92510612 25 40.07 -10 57 35.1 x15.4 G J95 ZK1AE47 KC2018 05 21.92556612 25 40.24 -10 57 26.3 x15.3 G J95 ZK1AE47 KC2018 05 21.92601712 25 40.41 -10 57 17.3 x15.2 G J95 A106ZsZ C2018 05 22)-
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NEOCPT08 queqia1 C2018 05 22.69634 12 42 42.68 -08 13 37.8 16.1 G C42 queqia1 C2018 05 22.69795 12 42 42.20 -08 13 21.1 16.1 G C42 queqia1 C2018 05 22.69951 12 42 41.74 -08 13 04.4 16.0 G C42 queqia1 C2018 05 22.70106 12 42 41.32 -08 12 48.9 16.2 G C42 queqia1 C2018 05 22.70267 12 42 40.89 -08 12 32.4 16.0 G C42 queqia1 C2018 05 22.70426 12 42 40.49 -08 12 15.8 16.0 G C42 queqia1 C2018 05 22.70588 12 42 40.05 -08 11 58.0 16.0 G C42 queqia1 C2018 05 22.70750 12 42 39.63 -08 11 41.8 16.0 G C42 queqia1 C2018 05 22.70913 12 42 39.27 -08 11 24.7 16.1 G C42 queqia1 C2018 05 22.71073 12 42 38.89 -08 11 08.2 16.0 G C42 ZK1AE47 KC2018 05 22.89616112 46 59.70 -07 52 22.6 16.1 GV J95 ZK1AE47 KC2018 05 22.89682812 46 59.48 -07 52 17.0 16.3 GV J95 ZK1AE47 KC2018 05 22.89750712 46 59.27 -07 52 11.4 16.2 GV J95 ZK1AE47 KC2018 05 22.89818412 46 59.09 -07 52 05.4 16.2 GV J95 2018-045D KC2018 05 23.84140 12 58 50.51 -06 02 41.2 16.9 Vq C95 2018-045D KC2018 05 23.85102 12 58 45.01 -06 01 47.6 16.6 Vq C95 2018-045D KC2018 05 23.86064 12 58 39.50 -06 00 52.9 17.0 Vq C95 2018-045D KC2018 05 23.87026 12 58 34.04 -05 59 57.1 17.0 Vq C95 2018-045D KC2018 05 23.87989 12 58 28.61 -05 59 00.8 16.9 Vq C95 2018-045D KC2018 05 23.88950 12 58 23.34 -05 58 03.2 17.1 Vq C95 2018-045D KC2018 05 27.94147413 58 07.37 +01 27 28.2 15.9 GV J95 2018-045D KC2018 05 27.94278013 58 08.90 +01 27 40.0 16.0 GV J95 2018-045D KC2018 05 27.94403313 58 10.41 +01 27 51.3 15.9 GV J95 Station data: (703) Catalina Sky Survey (N32.417006 W110.732640) US/Arizona. Observer G. J. Leonard. Measurers B. M. Africano, E. J. Christensen, D. C. Fuls, A. R. Gibbs, A. D. Grauer, H. Groeller, J. A. Johnson, R. A. Kowalski, S. M. Larson, G. J. Leonard, R. L. Seaman, F. C. Shelly. 0.68-m Schmidt + 10K CCD. (C42) Xingming Observatory, Mt. Nanshan (N43.471021 E87.177800) China. Observers H. Tan, X. Gao, P. Sun. Measurers Z. Xu, P. Sun, M.-T. Hui. 0.5-m f/4 reflector + CCD. (C95) SATINO Remote Observatory, Haute Provence (N43.932042 E5.712390) France. Observer J. Jahn. 0.60-m f/3.2 Newton + CCD. (J95) Great Shefford (N51.474969 W1.447003) UK. Observer P. Birtwhistle. 0.40-m f/6.0 Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD. (T08) ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa (N19.535772 W155.576400) US/Hawaii. Orbital elements (geocentric): 2018-045D = NORAD 43473 = Queqiao booster Perigee 2018 May 29.379890 +/- 6.17e-5 TT = 9:07:02 (JD 2458267.879890) Epoch 2018 May 28.0 TT = JDT 2458266.5 Gray M 322.62239 +/- 0.0016 (J2000 equator) n 27.08737893 +/- 8.97e-5 Peri. 165.17331 +/- 0.00017 a237005.732 +/- 0.524 Node 200.19469 +/- 0.00031 e 0.9056983 +/- 3.76e-6 Incl. 15.40729 +/- 0.00042 P 13.29d H 28.3 G 0.15 U 6.5 q 22350.0295 +/- 0.912 Q 451661.435 +/- 1.04 23 of 35 observations 2018 May 22-27; mean residual 0".446 Orbital elements (lunicentric): 2018-045D = NORAD 43473 = Queqiao booster Perilune 2018 May 25.586655 +/- 1.74e-5 TT = 14:04:47 (JD 2458264.086655) Epoch 2018 May 25.5 TT = JDT 2458264.0 Gray q 11931.2880 +/- 0.928 (J2000 ecliptic) H 28.3 G 0.15 Peri. 351.06767 +/- 0.0043 Node 173.28636 +/- 0.0045 e 2.8937239 +/- 0.000121 Incl. 171.87030 +/- 0.00032 23 of 35 observations 2018 May 22-27; mean residual 0".446 Orbital elements (geocentric, shortly after launch): 2018-045D = NORAD 43473 = Queqiao booster Perigee 2018 May 20.912543 +/- 0.00012 TT = 21:54:03 (JD 2458259.412543) Epoch 2018 May 22.0 TT = JDT 2458260.5 Gray M 36.14764 +/- 0.010 (J2000 equator) n 33.24054512 +/- 0.0106 Peri. 174.65323 +/- 0.0024 a206771.850 +/- 43.9 Node 204.66325 +/- 0.00007 e 0.9682628 +/- 5.68e-6 Incl. 28.46126 +/- 0.0006 P 10.83d H 28.1 G 0.15 U 9.7 q 6562.34720 +/- 1.93 Q 406981.353 +/- 86.2 22 of 26 observations 2018 May 21-22 (23.4 hr); mean residual 0".230
The object had some non-gravitational forces acting on it in the days after launch, probably remaining fuel boiling off. The final set of elements above is based on observations as the object went from the earth to the moon.
Residuals in arcseconds: 180521 703( 112+ 16.1+) 180522 C42 .917+ .729- 180522 J95 .434- .040- 180521 703( 108+ 12.4+) 180522 C42 .749+ .646- 180522 J95 .178- .227+ 180521 703( 105+ 10.9+) 180522 C42 .498+ .073- 180523 C95 .182+ .251+ 180521 703( 103+ 10.6+) 180522 C42 .634+ .621- 180523 C95 .257+ .085+ 180521 J95(8.97+ 3.85-) 180522 C42 .694+ .816- 180523 C95 .297+ .057+ 180521 J95(8.73+ 3.58-) 180522 C42 .941+ .728- 180523 C95 .579+ .177+ 180521 J95(8.74+ 3.73-) 180522 C42 .526+ .222+ 180523 C95 .277+ .199- 180521 J95(8.78+ 3.49-) 180522 C42 .219+ .453- 180523 C95 .476+ .073- 180522 T08(2.38+ 2.10-) 180522 C42 .646+ .357- 180527 J95 .197+ .184- 180522 T08(2.48+ 1.96-) 180522 C42 .477+ .572- 180527 J95 .190- .014+ 180522 T08(2.37+ 1.60-) 180522 J95 .098+ .144+ 180527 J95 5.8m- .178+ 180522 T08(2.23+ 1.81-) 180522 J95 .264- .105+ Ephemerides (geocentric): Date (UTC) HH RA Dec delta elong mag " sig PA ---- -- -- -- ------------- ----------- ------ ----- --- ---- --- 2018 05 27 00 13 29 12.512 +00 30 05.53 319154 134.3 16.7 .47 117 2018 05 27 01 13 30 12.486 +00 34 39.42 316200 134.4 16.7 .46 116 2018 05 27 02 13 31 13.737 +00 39 16.96 313204 134.6 16.7 .45 116 2018 05 27 03 13 32 16.313 +00 43 58.42 310163 134.7 16.6 .44 115 2018 05 27 04 13 33 20.264 +00 48 44.05 307077 134.8 16.6 .43 115 2018 05 27 05 13 34 25.644 +00 53 34.13 303946 135.0 16.6 .42 115 2018 05 27 06 13 35 32.511 +00 58 28.95 300768 135.2 16.6 .41 115 2018 05 27 07 13 36 40.929 +01 03 28.80 297542 135.3 16.5 .40 114 2018 05 27 08 13 37 50.966 +01 08 33.99 294267 135.5 16.5 .38 114 2018 05 27 09 13 39 02.695 +01 13 44.84 290942 135.6 16.5 .37 114 2018 05 27 10 13 40 16.195 +01 19 01.71 287567 135.8 16.5 .35 114 2018 05 27 11 13 41 31.552 +01 24 24.95 284139 136.0 16.4 .34 114 2018 05 27 12 13 42 48.858 +01 29 54.95 280658 136.2 16.4 .32 115 2018 05 27 13 13 44 08.212 +01 35 32.12 277122 136.3 16.4 .30 115 2018 05 27 14 13 45 29.723 +01 41 16.91 273530 136.5 16.3 .28 116 2018 05 27 15 13 46 53.507 +01 47 09.77 269881 136.7 16.3 .26 117 2018 05 27 16 13 48 19.691 +01 53 11.22 266173 136.9 16.3 .24 119 2018 05 27 17 13 49 48.413 +01 59 21.78 262405 137.1 16.2 .21 121 2018 05 27 18 13 51 19.825 +02 05 42.05 258575 137.4 16.2 .18 125 2018 05 27 19 13 52 54.088 +02 12 12.66 254681 137.6 16.1 .16 130 2018 05 27 20 13 54 31.384 +02 18 54.27 250721 137.8 16.1 .13 138 2018 05 27 21 13 56 11.908 +02 25 47.63 246695 138.0 16.1 .11 152 2018 05 27 22 13 57 55.876 +02 32 53.55 242598 138.3 16.0 .09 174 2018 05 27 23 13 59 43.526 +02 40 12.91 238430 138.5 16.0 .10 21 2018 05 28 00 14 01 35.121 +02 47 46.66 234189 138.8 15.9 .12 43 2018 05 28 01 14 03 30.950 +02 55 35.86 229871 139.0 15.9 .16 57 2018 05 28 02 14 05 31.338 +03 03 41.68 225473 139.3 15.8 .22 65 2018 05 28 03 14 07 36.643 +03 12 05.40 220995 139.6 15.8 .28 71 2018 05 28 04 14 09 47.267 +03 20 48.44 216431 139.9 15.7 .35 74 2018 05 28 05 14 12 03.663 +03 29 52.40 211780 140.2 15.7 .43 77 2018 05 28 06 14 14 26.340 +03 39 19.04 207037 140.5 15.6 .52 78 2018 05 28 07 14 16 55.873 +03 49 10.34 202199 140.8 15.6 .61 80 2018 05 28 08 14 19 32.918 +03 59 28.54 197262 141.2 15.5 .73 80 2018 05 28 09 14 22 18.225 +04 10 16.16 192222 141.5 15.4 .85 81 2018 05 28 10 14 25 12.655 +04 21 36.07 187074 141.9 15.4 1.0 81 2018 05 28 11 14 28 17.202 +04 33 31.54 181812 142.3 15.3 1.2 82 2018 05 28 12 14 31 33.027 +04 46 06.33 176431 142.6 15.2 1.3 82 2018 05 28 13 14 35 01.488 +04 59 24.77 170924 143.1 15.1 1.5 82 2018 05 28 14 14 38 44.189 +05 13 31.90 165286 143.5 15.0 1.8 82 2018 05 28 15 14 42 43.041 +05 28 33.60 159508 143.9 14.9 2.1 82 2018 05 28 16 14 47 00.344 +05 44 36.79 153582 144.4 14.9 2.4 82 2018 05 28 17 14 51 38.890 +06 01 49.70 147498 144.8 14.8 2.8 82 2018 05 28 18 14 56 42.116 +06 20 22.17 141246 145.3 14.6 3.2 82 2018 05 28 19 15 02 14.301 +06 40 26.07 134813 145.8 14.5 3.8 82 2018 05 28 20 15 08 20.858 +07 02 15.86 128187 146.3 14.4 4.4 82 2018 05 28 21 15 15 08.750 +07 26 09.36 121352 146.8 14.3 5.2 82 2018 05 28 22 15 22 47.110 +07 52 28.71 114290 147.2 14.1 6.2 82 2018 05 28 23 15 31 28.196 +08 21 41.76 106981 147.6 14.0 7.5 82 2018 05 29 00 15 41 28.896 +08 54 23.75 99401 148.0 13.8 9.1 82 2018 05 29 01 15 53 13.233 +09 31 19.56 91523 148.1 13.6 11.3 82 2018 05 29 02 16 07 16.700 +10 13 25.89 83317 148.0 13.4 14.4 82 2018 05 29 03 16 24 34.220 +11 01 51.78 74751 147.4 13.2 18.7 82 2018 05 29 04 16 46 35.781 +11 57 50.59 65790 146.0 13.0 25.3 83 2018 05 29 05 17 15 59.675 +13 01 56.06 56417 143.0 12.7 36.1 84 2018 05 29 06 17 57 49.407 +14 10 48.26 46667 137.4 12.5 55.2 86 2018 05 29 07 19 02 42.101 +15 02 41.82 36770 126.4 12.3 93.0 90 2018 05 29 08 20 53 06.438 +13 53 05.60 27683 105.0 12.3 171 96 2018 05 29 09 23 53 21.986 +05 37 56.05 22588 67.1 13.6 268 104 2018 05 29 10 03 05 01.247 -06 50 36.08 25577 34.4 17?? 217 103 2018 05 29 11 05 10 44.250 -12 51 16.11 33987 36.3 17?? 128 97 2018 05 29 12 06 25 04.058 -14 40 42.45 43809 46.9 16?? 79.3 93 2018 05 29 13 07 12 28.679 -15 04 20.82 53642 55.2 16?? 54.6 89 2018 05 29 14 07 45 24.412 -14 59 03.76 63132 61.4 16.2 40.5 86 2018 05 29 15 08 09 49.754 -14 43 40.20 72210 66.1 16.2 31.8 84 2018 05 29 16 08 28 50.588 -14 24 59.38 80887 69.8 16.2 26.0 82 2018 05 29 17 08 44 11.683 -14 05 41.24 89193 72.9 16.2 21.9 81 2018 05 29 18 08 56 56.435 -13 46 50.32 97161 75.4 16.3 18.8 79 2018 05 29 19 09 07 45.492 -13 28 51.76 104822 77.6 16.3 16.5 78 2018 05 29 20 09 17 06.181 -13 11 53.59 112205 79.5 16.4 14.7 77 2018 05 29 21 09 25 17.594 -12 55 56.28 119334 81.2 16.4 13.2 76 2018 05 29 22 09 32 33.514 -12 40 57.03 126230 82.6 16.5 12.0 75 2018 05 29 23 09 39 04.161 -12 26 51.74 132911 84.0 16.5 11.0 74 2018 05 30 00 09 44 57.295 -12 13 35.99 139394 85.2 16.6 10.2 73 2018 05 30 01 09 50 18.923 -12 01 05.42 145692 86.2 16.6 9.5 72 2018 05 30 02 09 55 13.782 -11 49 15.98 151818 87.2 16.7 8.9 72 2018 05 30 03 09 59 45.658 -11 38 03.95 157783 88.1 16.7 8.3 71 2018 05 30 04 10 03 57.625 -11 27 26.01 163596 89.0 16.7 7.8 70 2018 05 30 05 10 07 52.204 -11 17 19.15 169267 89.8 16.8 7.4 70 2018 05 30 06 10 11 31.485 -11 07 40.70 174802 90.5 16.8 7.0 69 2018 05 30 07 10 14 57.222 -10 58 28.28 180210 91.2 16.9 6.7 68 2018 05 30 08 10 18 10.894 -10 49 39.76 185496 91.8 16.9 6.4 68 2018 05 30 09 10 21 13.762 -10 41 13.23 190666 92.4 16.9 6.1 67 2018 05 30 10 10 24 06.908 -10 33 06.99 195726 93.0 17.0 5.8 67 2018 05 30 11 10 26 51.264 -10 25 19.52 200680 93.6 17.0 5.6 66 2018 05 30 12 10 29 27.643 -10 17 49.43 205533 94.1 17.0 5.4 65 2018 05 30 13 10 31 56.753 -10 10 35.49 210289 94.6 17.1 5.2 65 2018 05 30 14 10 34 19.217 -10 03 36.58 214952 95.0 17.1 5.0 64 2018 05 30 15 10 36 35.583 -09 56 51.67 219524 95.5 17.1 4.8 64 2018 05 30 16 10 38 46.339 -09 50 19.85 224010 95.9 17.2 4.7 63 2018 05 30 17 10 40 51.918 -09 44 00.28 228413 96.3 17.2 4.5 63 2018 05 30 18 10 42 52.707 -09 37 52.18 232735 96.7 17.2 4.4 62 2018 05 30 19 10 44 49.054 -09 31 54.86 236979 97.1 17.2 4.3 62 2018 05 30 20 10 46 41.272 -09 26 07.68 241147 97.4 17.3 4.2 62 2018 05 30 21 10 48 29.642 -09 20 30.05 245242 97.8 17.3 4.0 61 2018 05 30 22 10 50 14.420 -09 15 01.42 249265 98.1 17.3 3.9 61 2018 05 30 23 10 51 55.838 -09 09 41.29 253220 98.4 17.3 3.8 60 2018 05 31 00 10 53 34.107 -09 04 29.20 257107 98.7 17.4 3.7 60 2018 05 31 01 10 55 09.422 -08 59 24.72 260929 99.0 17.4 3.6 59 2018 05 31 02 10 56 41.957 -08 54 27.46 264687 99.3 17.4 3.6 59 2018 05 31 03 10 58 11.876 -08 49 37.05 268383 99.6 17.4 3.5 59