DOPPLER TRACKING OF NEAR-SYNCHRONOUS SATELLITES.
Abstract
The DODGE satellite was successfully tracked by use of single-frequency doppler data only. Prior to this experiment it was not an established fact that a near-synchronous satellite could be tracked with a doppler signal as the only source of data. Since the doppler signal was expected to be tenuous at best, the probable error sources, namely, ionospheric refraction, satellite oscillator drift, and station differential oscillator drift, were investigated and their effects noted. The orbit tracking and prediction accuracies were compared with independent measurements: the current tracking accuracy, although poor by near-earth satellite standards, is sufficient to enable most users to measure existing errors in satellite position, and the comparison of predicted satellite direction against maximum-signal-strength direction shows a standard deviation of about 1 degree. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0677922
Entities
People
- Bruce B. Holland
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory