SINGLE OPTIMUM SPACE-TIME REFERENCING SYSTEM.
Abstract
This study develops methodologies for coordinate fixing from measurements made on board a space craft in midflight. Both the problems of locations of the craft itself and location of events outside the craft are considered and a unified treatment of both problem areas is given. An error-minimization strategy is presented for the selection of reference frame in which to express the vehicle's position. Position determination via distance measurements and via angular separation measurements are considered in detail and an explicit solution of the equations arising in the latter case is given. The main purpose of the work reported in section two was to investigate and solve the problems met in the positioning and description of motion objects within the solar system. This is accomplished with the help of Einstein's general theory of relativity, which is briefly reviewed. It is found that the deflection in direction of an electromagnetic signal and corrections to angular measurement by means of such signals due to the presence of matter, are negligible within the solar system, except in the neighborhood of the sun. The corrections necessary in the calculation of distances from measurement the round trip time of laser beams are of the order of 10 to the minus 7th power sec. The doppler and gravitational frequency shifts are also measureable. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0615980
Entities
People
- Saul A. Basri
- Willard C. Humphreys