Long-tethered satellite systems for Shuttle flights would make measurements of the earth's gravitational field possible to a spatial resolution approaching 100 km. For instance, a subsatellite carrying a gravity gradiometer could be made to orbit at a height of 110 km by means of a 110-km tether tied to the Shuttle in a 220-km orbit. Even with an overall instrument sensitivity as poor as 1 Eotvos unit (e.u.), it would be possible to measure spatial wavelengths of approximately 600 to 700 km (i.e., harmonics of 80th to 70th degree). Also, a system of two satellites (one of which could be the Shuttle orbiter or one of its payloads) connected by a tether a few tens of kilometers long could provide a simple and sensitive means of detecting gravity anomalies characterized by wavelengths of a few hundred kilometers. In this system, the observable would be the mechanical tension on the tether, and a sensitivity up to 0.01 e.u. could be attained, provided the two satellites are tracked from the ground with sufficient accuracy.


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    Titel :

    Gravity-gradient measurements down to approximately 100-km height by means of long-tethered satellites


    Beteiligte:
    Colombo, G. (Autor:in) / Gaposchkin, E. M. (Autor:in) / Grossi, M. D. (Autor:in) / Weiffenbach, G. C. (Autor:in)

    Kongress:

    International Astronautical Congress ; 1976 ; Anaheim, CA


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    1976-10-01


    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Keine Angabe


    Sprache :

    Englisch


    Schlagwörter :


    Tethered Communication Satellites

    Von Tiesenhausen, G. | NTRS | 1986



    Gravity-gradient stabilization of satellites

    Kershner, R.B. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1963


    Gravity gradient enhancement during tethered payload retrieval

    Glickman, R. E. / Rybak, S. C. | NTRS | 1986


    Controlling short-tethered satellites

    Bschorr, O. | Elsevier | 1979