Analysis of the Orbit of Cosmos 395 Rocket (1971-13B) near 15th-Order Resonance.
Abstract
Cosmos 395 rocket (1971-13B) is moving in a near-circular orbit inclined at 74 degrees to the equator. Its average height, near 540 km after launch in February 1971, slowly decreased under the action of air drag and on 24 March 1972 it experienced exact 15th-order resonance, with the successive equator crossings 24 degrees apart in longitude. Its orbit has been determined at 21 epochs between September 1971 and September 1972 using 1100 observations, including 55 from the Malvern Hewitt camera: the mean sd in inclination is 0.001 degrees and in eccentricity 0.00001. The variations in inclination, eccentricity, right ascension of the node, and argument of perigee near 15th-order resonance are analysed to determine values of lumped 15th-order harmonic coefficients in the geopotential.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 26, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0777525
Entities
People
- A. N. Winterbottom
- Desmond King-Hele
Organizations
- Royal Aircraft Establishment