Observational studies of PAGEOS indicated the satellite experiences very large periodic accelerations whenever the orbit intersects the earth's shadow. It has been suggested that these accelerations are abnormal solar radiation pressure perturbations caused by the non-sphericity of the spacecraft and its rotational motion on its axis. During three months in 1969 the dynamical behavior of Pageos on its axis and the detailed shape of the balloon were determined by the USAF by new methods from photometric observations. These studies showed that Pageos is not spherical but ellipsoidal with major and minor axes approximately 34 m and 27 m respectively and rotating about a minor axis which is itself precessing. (Modified author abstract)
Anomalous Orbital Accelerations of the PAGEOS Spacecraft
1972
7 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Anomalous Accelerations of the Pageos Spacecraft
NTIS | 1971
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