THE ORBIT OF ARIEL 2 (1964-15A) - THE FIRST TWELVE MONTHS
Abstract
The definitive orbit for Ariel 2 (1964-15A) is computed, from Minitrack observations, for a period of twelve months from the launch of the satellite. The orbit is described by a model with eight orbital parameters and these parameters are listed at every twenty-fifth nodal passage. The angular observations are accurate to about 1 minute and, as a result, the average computed standard deviations of the eight fitted orbital parameters are as follows: 1 m in semi-major axis, 1/100,000 in eccentricity, 2 seconds in inclination, 4 seconds in right ascension of the node, 30 seconds in argument of perigee, 0.03 in time at the node, and 0.001 deg/squared and 0.001 deg/cubed in the linear and quadratic coefficients occurring in the mean motion polynomial. Ephemerides computed from the listed orbital parameters will be accurate to about 1/2 km, the accuracy required by the Ariel 2 experimenters. Limitations which prevent the accuracy from being better than this are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0481079
Entities
People
- Robert H. Gooding
Organizations
- Royal Aircraft Establishment