Opal Weekly Update -- August 6, 1999

1. The Opal launched date has been slipped to October 4, 1999.  This was due to several reasons.  The overweight issue as well as some range difficulties in finding an additional mobile radar.
2. This October 4th date may slip to October 14th due to "ranger poker."  Several other missions are attempting to launch during the same time.  At the end of October the range is shutting down for several weeks for routine maintenance.
3. Desktop models of Minotaur are being built.  They will be sold for $75.
4. Aerospace performed a simulation of post launch dynamics of Opal, ASUSAT1, and JAWSAT.  Their results predicted we would all just be meters away after the first orbit.  With that scenario collisions were extremely likely.  Thankfully, their model was in err and we are now expected to be much farther apart.  They will send out their results soon.
5. The PIWG has now been postponed till the first week of September.
6. Expected launch is October 4, 1999.