Equations for 15th-Order Geopotential Coefficients from the Orbit of Transit 1B.

Abstract

The RAE computer program PROP has been used to re-determine in greater detail the orbit of satellite Transit 1B, 1960 gamma 2, using a modified method on occasions when the number of observations was previously thought to be too few to determine the orbit. The satellite had an orbital inclination of about 51 degrees, and it was found possible to determine inclination accurately using only a small number of visual observations from latitudes near 51 degrees N. The main object of the study is to investigate the region of 15th-order resonance revealed by a steep decrease in inclination of about 0.04 degrees between March and November 1962. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0741737

Entities

People

  • Desmond King-Hele
  • H. Hiller

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Coefficients
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Equations
  • Geopotential
  • Grids
  • Latitude
  • Observation
  • Orbital Inclination
  • Resonance

Readers

  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris