The use of micro-accelerometers for space geodetic experiments
Abstract
A satellite mission is proposed which will allow the reduction of the major sources of uncertainty in the determination of near-earth satellite orbits. The mission is intended to account for the effects of atmospheric drag, direct and indirect solar pressure and satellite thermal emission by direct measurement of these nongravitational forces with a microaccelerometer able to detect accelerations in the range 10 to the -7th to 10 to the -11th g. The precise determinations of nongravitational forces thus obtained will also be useful in studies of gravitational field harmonics and models and the phase lag between theoretical and observed tides. The mission would also involve laser ranging and Doppler tracking on three coherent frequencies from a network of uniformly distributed ground stations, which would allow the effects of the ionosphere on signal propagation to be determined. Accuracies in orbital position determination on the order of a decimeter are foreseen.
- Publication:
-
Annales de Geophysique
- Pub Date:
- March 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981AnG....37....5P
- Keywords:
-
- Accelerometers;
- Artificial Satellites;
- Celestial Geodesy;
- Orbit Calculation;
- Satellite Orbits;
- Space Missions;
- Accuracy;
- Gravitational Fields;
- Orbit Perturbation;
- Radiation Effects;
- Radiation Pressure;
- Satellite-Borne Instruments;
- Solar Radiation;
- Tides