AbstractSatellite Laser Ranging (SLR) stations measure distance to the satellites equipped with Corner Cube Reflectors (CCRs). These range measurements contain information about spin parameters of the spacecraft. In this paper we present results of spin period determination of two passive satellites from SLR data only: 10years of LAGEOS-1 (10426 values), and 15years of LAGEOS-2 (15580 values). The measurements have been made by standard 10Hz SLR systems and the first 2kHz SLR system from Graz (Austria). The obtained data allowed calculation of the initial spin period of the satellites: 0.61s for LAGEOS-1 and 0.906s for LAGEOS-2. Long time series of the spin period values show that the satellite’s slowing down rate is not constant but is oscillating with a period of 846days for LAGEOS-1 and 578days for LAGEOS-2. The results presented here definitely prove that the SLR is a very efficient technique able to measure spin period of the geodetic satellites.
10 Years of LAGEOS-1 and 15 years of LAGEOS-2 spin period determination from SLR data
Advances in Space Research ; 43 , 12 ; 1926-1930
2009-01-19
5 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
10 Years of LAGEOS-1 and 15 years of LAGEOS-2 spin period determination from SLR data
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