Earth's gravity field to the eighteenth degree and geocentric coordinates for 104 stations from satellite and terrestrial data

Geodetic parameters describing the earth's gravity field and the positions of satellite-tracking stations in a geocentric reference frame have been computed. These parameters were estimated by means of a combination of five different types of data: routine and simultaneous satellite observations, observations of deep space probes, measurements of terrestrial gravity, and surface triangulation data. The combination gives better parameters than does any subset of data types. The dynamic solution used precision-reduced Baker-Nunn observations and laser range data of 25 satellites. Data from the 49-station National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration BC-4 network, the 19-station Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Baker-Nunn network, and independent camera stations were employed in the geometrical solution.