Our good friend Paul Marsh (Twitter address: UHF_satcom) has a working theory that the 278 MHz satellite downlinks we are hearing may be from a new Russian military satellite program - the Meridian milsats. The first two launches were apparent failures per http://www.russianspaceweb.com/meridian.html.
Signals for our mystery 278 MHz milsat have been heard on: 277.6000 277.8000 277.9500 278.0000 278.0500 278.1000 278.2000 278.2250 278.2500 278.4000 278.4250 278.4500 278.4750 278.5000 MHz
Orbital Information
First valid epoch is 5. Nov 2010
Selected (next earlier) epoch is 7. Dec 2010 Selected (next earlier) epoch is 7. Dec 2010
Brightness: 4.9 mag (at 1000 km and 50% illuminated) 3.7 mag (at perigee and full illumination) Brightness: 4.9 mag (at 1000 km and 50% illuminated) 3.7 mag (at perigee and full illumination)
RCS: 6.8m2 (Radar cross section) RCS: 6.8m2 (Radar cross section)
NORAD Catalog Nr: 37213 NORAD Catalog Nr: 37213
International Designator: 2010-058B International Designator: 2010-058B
Perigee Height: 798.3 km Perigee Height: 798.3 km
Apogee Height: 39616.6 km Apogee Height: 39616.6 km
Orbit Period: 11.98h Orbit Period: 11.98h
Kepler Elements Kepler Elements
Semi-major Axis: 26585.584 km Semi-major Axis: 26585.584 km
Eccentricity: 0.7300645 Eccentricity: 0.7300645
Inclination: 62.829° Inclination: 62.829 °
Argument of Perigee: 269.9111° Argument of Perigee: 269.9111 °
Right Ascension of Ascending Node: 0.6281° Right Ascension of Ascending Node: 0.6281 °
Mean Anomaly at Epoch: 14.4662° Mean Anomaly at Epoch: 14.4662 °
Susceptibility to Drag B*: 1/earth radii Susceptibility to Drag B *: 1/earth radii
Revolutions per Day: 2.00278283 Revolutions per Day: 2.00278283
Number of Orbits since Launch: 67 Number of Orbits since Launch: 67
Epoch (UTC): 7. Dec 2010 0:53:58 (JD=2455537.53747804) Epoch (UTC): 7. Dec 2010 0:53:58 (JD = 2455537.53747804)
State Vector State Vector
Position Vector: x = 21430.31 km Position Vector: x = 21430.31 km
y = 189.415 km y = 189.415 km
z = -88.681 km z = -88.681 km
Velocity Vector: vx = 3.1433 km/s Velocity Vector: vx = 3.1433 km / s
vy = 1.9995 km/s vy = 1.9995 km / s
vz = 3.828 km/s vz = 3.828 km / s
Two-Line Elements Two-Line Elements
Meridian 3 r 4.9 6.8 Meridian 3 r 4.9 6.8 1 37213U 10058B 10341.03747804 -.00001272 00000-0 00000+0 0 164 1 37213U 10058B 10341.03747804 -. 00001272 00000-0 00000 +0 0 164 2 37213 062.8290 000.6281 7300645 269.9111 014.4662 02.00278283 674 237 213 062.8290 000.6281 269.9111 014.4662 02.00278283 674 7300645
From the Russian Strategic nuclear forces blog
http://russianforces.org/blog/2010/11/space_forces_launch_new_meridi.shtml
Space Forces launched new Meridian communication satellite
On November 2, 2010 the Space Forces carried out a successful launch of a Soyuz-2.1a launcher with a Fregat post-boost stage. The rocket was launched at 03:58:39 MSK (00:58:39 UTC) from the launch pad No. 3 of the launch complex No. 43 of the Plesetsk space launch site. According to a Space Forces representative, the spacecraft - a communication satellite of the Meridian type -successfully reached its orbit at 06:13 MSK.
The satellite was identified by the Space Forces by its generic name, Meridian. Its international designation is 2010-058A, NORAD number 37212. According to the satellite manufacturer, the Reshetnev Design Bureau, the satellite successfully reached its operational orbit. Parameters of the orbit: inclination 62.8 degrees, perigee 966 km, apogee about 39800 km, orbital period about 726 minutes.
This is the third Meridian launch. The fist one took place in December 2006, the second - in May 2009.
This launch completed flight tests of the Soyuz-2.1a rocket.
Other links:
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/meridian.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz-2_
http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk/index.php/launch-schedule
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=35008
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=29668
http://www.calsky.com/cs.cgi/Satellites/1?&satid=2009-029
http://www.calsky.com/cs.cgi/Satellites/1?&satid=2006-061
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=1133.1275
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=14658.15
http://russianforces.org/blog/2006/12/launch_of_meridian_communicati.shtml
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=8350
http://www.skyrocket.de/space/doc_sdat/meridian.htm