Celestial mechanical problems in evaluating space propulsion systems.
Propulsion systems for deep space missions, investigating gravitational corrections affecting spacecraft orbits
SEARCH · Search NASA
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Propulsion systems for deep space missions, investigating gravitational corrections affecting spacecraft orbits
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
FORTRAN programs giving coordinate transformations of ecliptic, galactic, and equatorial systems
Tracking data analyses of Mariners 6 and 7 for determining Earth Moon mass ratio and Mars mass
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Three degree of freedom perturbed two body problem, applying theory of redundant variables to Lagrangian equations of motion
Essential navigational, physical, and mathematical problems of space exploration are covered. The introductory chapters dealing with conic sections, orientation, and the integration of the two-body problem are followed by an introduction to orbit determination and design. Systems of units and constants, as well as ephemerides, representations, reference systems, and data are then dealt with. A detailed attention is given to rendezvous problems and to differential processes in observational orbit correction, and in rendezvous or guidance correction. Finally, the Laplacian methods for determining preliminary orbits, and the orbit methods of Lagrange, Gauss, and Gibbs are reviewed.
Analysis of the Mariner 9 radio-tracking data shows that the Martian gravity field is rougher than that of earth or the moon, and that the accepted direction of the Mars rotation axis is in error by about 0.5 deg. Contours of equivalent surface heights deduced from a sixth-degree solution for the Martian gravity field are presented. These contours represent the deviations from sphericity of a uniformly dense body with an external potential which is given by the first sixth-degree solution. In addition to Doppler observations, ranging or group-delay measurements have been made regularly since orbit insertion.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
An evaluation of the ultraviolet flux from the stars expected in the various inertial-hold pointing directions and PTC scans during the Apollo 17 mission is presented. These directions and PTC scan poles for the nominal mission are listed. The methodology used in evaluating the flux, and the individual targets themselves is explained.
There are two main objectives in the Mars gravity field analysis. The first is to generate a picture of the gravity field which can be used in conjunction with other types of data to elucidate the interior, surface structure, and history of Mars. The second is to aid the orbit determination aspect of the relativity experiment. In an effort to extract from the data a Mars gravity model of reasonable fidelity, various spherical harmonic models have been made. A parallel effort using a surface mass representation involves the differentiation of Doppler residuals for acceleration contours.
A radio tracking subsystem is reported in which the critical elements are the frequency standard and its distribution subsystem, as they ultimately limit the accuracy of both range and Doppler measurements. A rubidium vapor standard serves as the primary reference. After frequency multiplication to S-band and additional amplification, the carrier is transmitted to the spacecraft where a phase-locked receiver-transmitter system filters the signal, introduces a slight frequency shift, and retransmits it to the ground. Doppler is measured by comparing the received frequency with that being transmitted.
The relativity test is based on Mariner 9 tracking data acquired by the Deep Space Network. These data consist of two types of measurements: (1) two-way frequency difference (Doppler) measurements that are proportional to the tracking station-spacecraft range rate, and (2) signal round trip time-delay measurements that are proportional to the station-spacecraft range. A data compression scheme has been employed to alleviate accuracy and cost difficulties by (1) using the Doppler data to solve for the spacecraft orbit and to relate spacecraft position to the center of mass of Mars; and (2) combining this result with the station-spacecraft range measurements to obtain measurements of the Earth-Mars distance, called normal points, that contain all of the information pertinent to a detailed knowledge of the Earth-Mars motion.
The efforts and accomplishments of the CME Team are summarized. The objectives and experiment status, gravity field of Mars, test of general relativity, and the generation of normal points are discussed.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The instrument described is an f/5 Newtonian telescope with a parabolic pyrex primary mirror. The telescope tube is 1.5 m long. A 61 cm baffle is included to provide shielding from off-axis objects such as the earth, the moon, and the sun. An outline of the regions covered by sky surveys in June 1970 and in April 1971 is presented. Approximately 750 square degrees of the sky have been covered, including 100 degrees along the galactic plane.
This investigation was undertaken to determine the usefulness of interval analysis to numerical integration and matrix inversion techniques and to combine these results to determine the value of interval analysis in bounding computational errors in the two-body problem. Conclusions were that interval analysis may be worthwhile in certain small scale isolated problems, but its usefulness in any large scale problem is doubtful.