A Significant Satellite Relativity Experiment Without an Atomic Oscillator.

Abstract

An experiment is proposed for an accurate and reliable measurement of the periodic relativistic doppler shift with a high-eccentricity, low-perigee-height orbit. Using a quartz crystal oscillator and existing proven hardware, the experiment would be both reliable and inexpensive with very little development required. An analysis is made of the errors in a previous similar experiment that was completed with the GEOS-I satellite. From the demonstrated capability in the GEOS experiment, it is concluded that a relative accuracy of better than 1% is attainable with an orbit eccentricity greater than 0.5. With an eccentricity as high as 0.9, the relative error would be of the order of 0.1%. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0716773

Entities

People

  • Robert E. Jenkins

Organizations

  • Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Crystal Oscillators
  • Doppler Effect
  • Eccentricity
  • Electronic Equipment
  • Errors
  • Measurement
  • Oscillators

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites