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GMM-1: A 50 degree and order gravitational field model for MarsKnowledge of the gravitational field, in combination with surface topography, provides one of the principal means of inferring the internal structure of a planetary body. The highest resolution gravitational field for Mars published thus far was derived from Doppler tracking data from the Mariner 9 and Viking 1 and 2 spacecraft and is complete to degree and order 18 corresponding to a half wavelength resolution of approximately 600 km. This field, which is characterized by a spatial resolution that is slightly better than that of the highest resolution (16x16) topographic model, has been utilized extensively in analyses of the state of stress and isostatic compensation of the Martian lithosphere. However, the resolution and quality of current gravity and topographic fields are such that the origin and evolution of even the major physiographic features on Mars, such as the hemispheric dichotomy and Tharsis rise, are not well understood. We have re-analyzed the Viking and Mariner data sets and have derived a new gravitational field, which we designated GMM-1 (Goddard Mars Model-1). This model is complete to spherical harmonic degree and order 50 with a corresponding (half wavelength) spatial resolution of 200-300 km where the data permit. In contrast to previous models, GMM-1 was solved to as high degree and order as necessary to nearly exhaust the attenuated gravitational signal contained in the tracking data.
Document ID
19940016301
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Smith, D. E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Lerch, F. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Nerem, R. S.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Zuber, M. T.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD., United States)
Patel, G. B.
(Hughes STX, Inc. Lanham, MD., United States)
Fricke, S. K.
(RMS Technologies, Inc. Landover, MD., United States)
Lemoine, F. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Inst., Twenty-Fourth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Part 3: N-Z
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
94N20774
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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