The 29th-order harmonics in the geopotential from the orbit of Ariel 1 at 29:2 resonance
Abstract
In analyzing the orbit of Ariel 1 to determine upper-atmosphere winds, it was observed that the orbital inclination underwent a noticeable perturbation under the action of air drag in November 1969 at the 29:2 resonance with the earth's gravitational field, when the satellite track over the earth repeats every 2 days after 29 revolutions. The variations in the inclination and eccentricity of the orbit between July 1969 and February 1970 were analyzed, using 35 US Navy orbits, and fitted with theoretical curves to obtain lumped values of 29th-order harmonic coefficients in the geopotential.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- August 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976STIN...7730148W
- Keywords:
-
- Geopotential;
- Harmonic Analysis;
- Orbital Resonances (Celestial Mechanics);
- Satellite Orbits;
- Satellite Perturbation;
- Ariel 1 Satellite;
- Eccentricity;
- Resonance;
- Satellite Tracking;
- Astrodynamics