The Evolution of GEOS-C and the Radar Altimeter for Geodetic Measurements.
Abstract
The geodetic series of satellites is traced from ANNA through GEOS-I and -II in terms of the geodetic experiments completed and proposed. The ANNA instruments included the use of four coherent frequencies for doppler tracking, a range transponder (SECOR), and flashing lights for optical beacons. GEOS-I had the ANNA instruments plus a range and range-rate transponder and laser corner reflectors. GEOS-II had all the GEOS-I instruments plus C-band radar transponders and a C-band passive tracking array. GEOS-C will have the GEOS-II experiments minus the SECOR and plus a unified S-band transponder, a satellite-to-satellite tracking experiment, and an X-band radar altimeter for measuring sea level at the subsatellite position. It is expected that the satellite-to-sea-level distance will be measured to an accuracy of 1 to 5 meters in this experiment. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0718348
Entities
People
- S. J. Kowal
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory