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A Geos 3 Orbit determination experimentThe purpose of this experiment was to investigate the value of altimetry data in high-precision satellite orbit determination. To accomplish this, software was developed to process laser, C-band, doppler and altimeter data singly or jointly. Initially, orbit determination studies were undertaken using synthetic data to validate the software. As data became available, preliminary experiments were carried out. When all the data became available, an intensive study was made covering a 4-day span in 1976. The results showed that even with sparse altimeter data it was possible to accurately determine the semimajor axis and eccentricity with altimeter data only. When altimeter data was supplemented with (as few as) two C-band passes, high-precision ephemerides were obtained. Using two laser passes to supplement the altimetry data did not achieve that same high precision. This is probably because the geographic location (mid-Atlantic) of the highly accurate laser data were such that they did not ideally complement the available (south Atlantic and Indian Ocean) altimeter data.
Document ID
19790060680
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Pisacane, V. L.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Silver Spring, MD, United States)
Eisner, A.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Silver Spring, MD, United States)
Yionoulis, S. M.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Silver Spring, MD, United States)
Mcconahy, R. J.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Silver Spring, MD, United States)
Black, H. D.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Silver Spring, MD, United States)
Pryor, L. L.
(Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
July 30, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 84
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Accession Number
79A44693
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: N00024-78-C-5384
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA TASK I
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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