Testing Relativity and Gravitational Theories by Radar Ranging to a Heliocentric Satellite
Abstract
Laser ranging to the Moon and radar ranging to the planets and space probes are providing increasingly more accurate estimates of post-Newtonian gravitational effects. This paper summarizes the results obtained so far and outlines future possibilities of more accurate tests of relativity by laser and X and K band ranging to space probes, particularly to a highly eccentric or direct impact solar probe.
- Publication:
-
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series A
- Pub Date:
- May 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1098/rsta.1977.0035
- Bibcode:
- 1977RSPTA.284..589R
- Keywords:
-
- Gravitation Theory;
- Radar Measurement;
- Relativity;
- Satellite Tracking;
- Solar Probes;
- Laser Range Finders;
- Particle Trajectories;
- Photons;
- Range Finders;
- Satellite-To-Satellite Tracking;
- Solar Magnetic Field;
- Solar Orbits;
- Astrophysics;
- GRAVITATION THEORY;
- RADAR MEASUREMENT;
- RELATIVITY;
- SATELLITE TRACKING;
- SOLAR PROBES;
- LASER RANGE FINDERS;
- PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES;
- PHOTONS;
- RANGE FINDERS;
- SATELLITE-TO-SATELLITE TRACKING;
- SOLAR MAGNETIC FIELD;
- SOLAR ORBITS