Upper-Atmosphere Heating at High Latitudes.

Abstract

The orbit of Molniya 1K (1968-85A) from November 1968 to November 1970 has been analysed to study variations in air density near 65 degrees S. This object is unique among the Molniya satellites in that its perigee height, which varies with a 7-year period due to luni-solar forces, reached a minimum near 400 km about a year after launch. The air density is sampled over very short arcs because of the high eccentricity (0.74), and the sampling is confined to two small regions of the earth since the orbit is 2:1 commensurable with the earth's rotation. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0737170

Entities

People

  • R. R. Allan

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Atmospheres
  • Eccentricity
  • Grids
  • Grids (Coordinates)
  • High Latitudes
  • Latitude
  • Rotation
  • Sampling

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris