MOLECULAR ATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN HORIZON STUDY DATA EVALUATION STUDY REPORT,

Abstract

Since many attitude controlled earth satellites have been orientated in the direction of the instantaneous local vertical, the accurate determination of the spacecraft's instantaneous local vertical is a major problem of concern. The solution previously proposed is to utilize the thermal radiation from oxygen in the earth's atmosphere to establish the local vertical at the space vehicle. The oxygen radiation, which appears to be well defined, presents a most attractive means of establishing the local vertical, independent of the spatial distribution of weather and temperature variations appearing across the surface of the earth. This report is concerned with the utilization and interpretation of data taken with a prototype radiometer. The objective is to arrive at a quantitive conclusion with respect to the efficacy of a microwave vertical sensing configuration. Restrictions on the data and their effect on the conclusion to be drawn due to satellite environment considerations are discussed. The radiometer design is reviewed and the telemetry requirements indicated.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 05, 1965
Accession Number
AD0624615

Entities

People

  • Hugh P. Taylor

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Atmospheres
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Environment
  • Microwaves
  • Prototypes
  • Radiation
  • Radiometers
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Components
  • Spatial Distribution
  • Telemetry
  • Thermal Radiation
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space