A discussion on orbital analysis - Determination of the Earth’s gravitational field from satellite orbits: methods and results

1967 ◽  
Vol 262 (1124) ◽  
pp. 119-134 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Field ◽  
Artificial Satellites ◽  
Satellite Orbits ◽  
Estimation Of Parameters ◽  
Earth’S Gravitational Field ◽  
Keplerian Ellipse ◽  
Orbital Data ◽  
Analysis Determination ◽  
Orbital Analysis

The structure of theories used in determining the gravitational field from the perturbations of orbits of artificial satellites is discussed and it is shown how it corresponds to the fact that small departures from a Keplerian ellipse are readily observed. Some current problems are mentioned. Statistical problems in the estimation of parameters of the field from orbital data are considered and recent estimates are summarized

A discussion on orbital analysis - Preface

1967 ◽  
Vol 262 (1124) ◽  
pp. 3-3
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Field ◽  
Royal Society ◽  
Upper Atmosphere ◽  
Artificial Satellites ◽  
National Committee ◽  
Satellite Orbits ◽  
International Meeting ◽  
Air Drag ◽  
Earth’S Gravitational Field ◽  
Orbital Analysis

Soon after the first artificial satellites were launched in 1957, it became clear that their orbits were being recognizably altered by air drag and the non-spherical components of the Earth’s gravitational field. By analysing these changes in satellite orbits it has been possible to measure the Earth’s gravitational field and the density and temperature of the upper atmosphere in far greater detail and much more accurately than was ever possible before. At the end of 1965 the British National Committee for Space Research, under the chairmanship of Sir Harrie Massey, F.R.S., decided that a two-day international meeting should be held to discuss the techniques of orbital analysis. The meeting took place in the rooms of the Royal Society at Burlington House, London, on 17 and 18 October 1966, and was attended by over 100 participants from several countries. The papers presented at the meeting are collected in this volume

A discussion on orbital analysis - Recent developments in determination of the lunar gravitational field from satellite orbits

1967 ◽  
Vol 262 (1124) ◽  
pp. 148-155 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Field ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Hydrostatic Equilibrium ◽  
University Of California ◽  
Satellite Orbits ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Lunar Topography ◽  
Orbital Analysis

The initial determinations of the variations in the lunar gravitational field are appreciably milder than those of the Earth in the sense of stress-implication, indicating a state closer to hydrostatic equilibrium. The variations determined also have a considerable correlation with the lunar topography, indicating a shallower origin than the Earth’s variations. The data are still insufficient to determine firmly the lunar oblateness, and thus help resolve the problem of the Moon’s moment of inertia. This paper is being issued as Publication No. 559 of the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles.

The orbits of Ariel 4 and Prospero

1975 ◽  
Vol 343 (1633) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Field ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
Zonal Harmonics ◽  
Earth’S Gravitational Field ◽  
Tesseral Harmonics ◽  
Visual Observations

Orbital parameters for Ariel 4 and Prospero have been determined at the Royal Aircraft Establishment and made available for use with the respective telemetry analysis programs. Ariel 4 orbit determinations were based on N.A.S.A. Minitrack observations, and Prospero orbit determinations on U.S. Navy observations and a small number of visual observations. Both orbits are near polar (inclination 83° for Ariel 4 and 82° for Prospero) but not otherwise similar. The initial perigee and apogee heights were, respectively, 500 and 600 km for Ariel 4, as against 550 and 1600 km for Prospero. Hence Ariel 4 has experienced much more drag than Prospero and orbital parameters had to be determined at much closer intervals for the former than for the latter, 3 days as against 7 days. The Ariel 4 orbit is being analysed to study the effects of 15th-order tesseral harmonics in the Earth’s gravitational field, and the Prospero orbit has been used in a recent determination of odd zonal harmonics.

A discussion on orbital analysis - A brief survey of satellite orbit determination

1967 ◽  
Vol 262 (1124) ◽  
pp. 71-78
Keyword(s):  
Orbit Determination ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Solar Radiation Pressure ◽  
Satellite Orbit ◽  
Dynamical Theory ◽  
Satellite Orbits ◽  
Perturbation Techniques ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Orbital Analysis

The accurate determination of satellite orbits depends on an adequate accumulation of observations, a sound dynamical theory and a fairly sophisticated sequence of numerical computations. The particular patterns of observation, theory and computation are considered in relation to the objectives of orbit determination. Factors to be taken into account are the type, accuracy and spread of observations; perturbations of the orbit due to air drag, attraction of the Earth, Moon, and Sun, and solar radiation pressure; and the speed and cost of available computers. These factors, together with the overall objectives, determine the main features of the computation; whether to use special or general perturbation techniques, what length of orbit arc to use, what parameters to determine and how to present the results.

scholarly journals DETERMINATION OF ACCURACY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARTHS GRAVITATIONAL FIELD FOR THE PURPOSES OF AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-54
Author(s):  
Snezhana Yakimova ◽  
Irina Ganagina
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Field ◽  
Autonomous Navigation ◽  
Plumb Line ◽  
Global Models ◽  
Novosibirsk Region ◽  
Earth’S Gravitational Field ◽  
Using Data

The article discusses the results of comparing the component deviations of a plumb line ob-tained with using data from global models of the Earth's gravitational field and as a result of ground-based (astronomic-geodesic) measurements in the territory of the Novosibirsk Region.

Determination of the Earth's Gravitational Field

Science ◽  
1960 ◽  
Vol 131 (3400) ◽  
pp. 607-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. O'Keefe
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Field ◽  
Earth’S Gravitational Field

A discussion on orbital analysis - Determination of Love’s number from satellite observations

1967 ◽  
Vol 262 (1124) ◽  
pp. 135-136 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Observations ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Analysis Determination ◽  
Orbital Analysis

From variations of orbital inclinations of the three satellites 1959a 1, 1959 r, and 1960, Love's number of the Earth is determined as 0.39 ± 0.05.

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