THE LARGE SEMI-ANNUAL VARIATION IN EXOSPHERIC DENSITY: A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION

Abstract

An analysis of the orbit of the satellite Calsphere 1 confirms the large semi-annual variation in density at heights near 1100 km previously found from the orbit of Echo 2, and not predicted by present atmospheric models. This variation is probably due to relatively smaller variations at much lower altitudes, in particular variations at heights near 120 km, which is taken as the lower boundary for the construction of upper-atmosphere models.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0641718

Entities

People

  • G. E. Cook

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Atmosphere Models
  • Atmospheres
  • Boundaries
  • Coefficients
  • Construction
  • Diffusion
  • Models
  • Observation
  • Particles
  • Solar Activity
  • Sun
  • Transitions

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris