Here is what data I have, followed by some comments, and a reply to an October 3rd message from Ted Molczan. It is probably significant, i.e., not coincidental, that the object disappeared some seconds prior to the final Fs both on 961008 and 970119. I have never found any differences. I've thought about this and can't justify it. That doesn't seem plausible to me.
All planes intersect on the equator.
There is one Japanese satellite that actually is in a pretty circular orbit. But I don't believe the premise of the joke.