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Gravity and Macro-Model Tuning for the Geosat Follow-on SpacecraftThe US Navy's GEOSAT Follow-On (GFO) spacecraft was launched on February 10, 1998 and the primary objective of the mission was to map the oceans using a radar altimeter. The spacecraft tracking complement consisted of GPS receivers, a laser retroreflector and Doppler beacons. Since the GPS receivers have not yet returned reliable data, the only means of providing high-quality precise orbits has been though satellite laser ranging (SLR). The spacecraft has been tracked by the international satellite laser ranging network since April 22, 1998, and an average of 7.4 passes per day have been obtained from US and participating foreign stations. Since the predicted radial orbit error due to the gravity field is two to three cm, the largest contributor to the high SLR residuals (7-10 cm RMS for five day arcs) is the mismodelling of the non-conservative forces, not withstanding the development of a three-dimensional eight-panel model and an analytical attitude model for the GFO spacecraft. The SLR residuals show a clear correlation with beta-prime (solar elevation) angle, peaking in mid-August 1998 when the beta-prime angle reached -80 to -90 degrees. In this paper we discuss the tuning of the non-conservative force model, for GFO and report the subsequent addition of the GFO tracking data to the Earth gravity model solutions.
Document ID
19990092485
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Lemoine, Frank G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Rowlands, David D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Marr, Gregory C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Zelensky, Nikita P.
(Raytheon Co. Greenbelt, MD United States)
Luthcke, Scott B.
(Raytheon Co. Greenbelt, MD United States)
Cox, Christopher M.
(Raytheon Co. Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
July 19, 1999
Subject Category
Oceanography
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics General Assembly
Location: Birmingham
Country: United Kingdom
Start Date: July 19, 1999
End Date: July 30, 1999
Sponsors: International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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