AN APPLICATION OF METHODS OF FUNCTION MINIMISATION TO A PROBLEM OF NON-LINEAR CURVE FITTING ARISING IN THE ESTIMATION OF GEOPHYSICAL CONSTANTS FROM SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS.

Abstract

Observations of the mean longitude of two nearly synchronous satellites, Syncom 2 and Syncom 3, have been used to estimate the parameters associated with the most important longitude-dependent terms in the expansion of the Earth's gravitational field. This has been done by solving a non-linear least squares curve fitting problem using function minimisation techniques and the opportunity has been taken of comparing the efficiencies of a number of these techniques. Estimates of the accuracy of the parameter values obtained have been found from a linearised model. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0646640

Entities

People

  • B. A. M. Piggott

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Curve Fitting
  • Efficiency
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Gravitational Fields
  • Grids
  • Longitude
  • Observation
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Statistical inference.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris