The Determination and Prediction of Near-Synchronous Satellite Orbits Utilizing a Polynomial Force Model.

Abstract

A method for accurately determining and predicting the orbits of near-synchronous satellites is presented. The basic approach is to supplement the conventional spherical harmonics representation of the terrestrial gravity field with a forcing function having components represented by polynomial expansions about nominal values of vehicular sub-latitude, sub-longitude, and separation from the geocenter. Numerical results are presented for a variety of near-synchronous orbits with small to moderate eccentricities and inclinations. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 07, 1969
Accession Number
AD0855873

Entities

People

  • N. S. Hall
  • R. H. Gersten

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Eccentricity
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Grids
  • Harmonics
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Mathematics
  • Orbits
  • Polynomials
  • Satellite Orbits
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Orbits
  • Spherical Harmonics

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris