COMPUTATIONAL PROCEDURE FOR VINTI'S THEORY OF AN ACCURATE INTERMEDIARY ORBIT,
Abstract
By introducing the oblate spheroidal system of generalized coordinates into the solution of Laplace's equation, three adjustable constants are provided by which this solution can be made to agree largely with the earth's potential expressed by means of a general expansion in spherical harmonics. This agreement is exact for the zeroth, first, and second zonal harmonics, and as a consequence of this system, through more than half of the latest accepted value of the earth's fourth harmonic. Based on this theory of Vinti's solution by separable Hamiltonian, a computing procedure is described for obtaining the coordinates and velocity of an unretarded satellite from a knowledge of its initial conditions. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0272904
Entities
People
- N. L. Bonavito
Organizations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration