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At least 217 records · Page 12

Mars gravity field via the short data arcs

Short arc reduction of satellite Mars tracking data shows that: (1) There is one large gravity high covering the region of Nix Olympica and the three peaks to the east (about 110 deg longitude). It has an amplitude of 50 milligals at 2200-km altitude and implies a surface mass anomaly times greater than any on earth; (2) there are no large negative gravity anomalies comparable to the positive; and (3) the large 3000-km canyon seems to originate in a gravity high and end in a gravity low.

Sjogren, W. L.↗

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Lunar and Martian Gravity Fields

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is required training for all astronauts. No studies thus far have investigated how chest compressions may be affected in lunar and Martian gravities. Therefore a theoretical quantitative study was performed. The maximum downward force an unrestrained person can apply is mg N (g(sub Earth) = 9.78 ms(sup -2), g(sub moon) = 1.63 ms(sup -2), g(sub Mars) = 3.69 ms(sup -2). Tsitlik et a1 (Critical Care Medicine, 1983) described the human sternal elastic force-displacement relationship (compliance) by: F = betaD(sub s) + gammaD(sub s)(sup 2) (beta = 54.9 plus or minus 29.4 Ncm(sup -1) and gamma = 10.8 plus or minus 4.1 Ncm(sup -2)). Maximum forces in the 3 gravitational fields produced by 76 kg (US population mean), 41 kg and 93 kg (masses derived from the limits for astronaut height), produced solutions for compression depth using Tsitlik equations for chests of: mean compliance (beta = 54.9, gamma = 10.8), low compliance (beta = 84.3, gamma = 14.9) and high compliance (beta = 25.5, gamma = 6.7). The mass for minimum adequate adult compression, 3.8 cm (AHA guidelines), was also calculated. 76 kg compresses the mean compliance chest by: Earth, 6.1 cm, Mars, 3.2 cm, Moon, 1.7 cm. In lunar gravity, the high compliance chest is compressed only 3.2 cm by 93 kg, 120 kg being required for 3.8 cm. In Martian gravity, on the mean chest, 93 kg compresses 3.6 cm; 99 kg is required for 3.8 cm. On Mars, the high compliance chest is compressed 4.8 cm with 76 kg, 5.5 cm with 93 kg, with 52 kg required for 3.8 cm.

Sarkar, Subhajit↗

Laser clocks and near field gravity of rotating objects

This work explores the feasibliity of using high performance laser clocks to detect effects of rotation in the near field region of the Earth's gravitational field. According to general relativity, the time recorded by an independent clock is the proper time of the space-time metric that applies to the system under consideration. If the gravitational source is stationary (nonrotating), proper time involves only the speed of the clocks and the scalar gravitational potential at the position of the clocks. However, if the source is rotating, the motion of the source could have an effect on the metric. Previous attempts to calculate the relativistic timekeeping for terrestrial clocks have used the metric for a nonrotating system, primarily because metrics for a rotating system were not available. This work investigates the specific effects of rotation on the Earth's gravitational field and the corresponding effect on timekeeping of laser clocks in the near field environment.

Hafele, Joseph C.↗

Improvement of the Earth's gravity field from terrestrial and satellite data

The determination of the Earth's gravitational potential can be done through the analysis of satellite perturbations, the analysis of surface gravity data, or both. The combination of the two data types yields a solution that combines the strength of each method: the longer wavelength strength in the satellite analysis with the better high frequency information from surface gravity data. Since 1972, Ohio State has carried out activities that have provided surface gravity data to a number of organizations who have developed combination potential coefficient models that describe the Earth's gravitational potential.

Rapp, Richard H.↗

Global gravity field to degree and order 30 from Geos 3 satellite altimetry and other data

A model of the geopotential field in spherical harmonics to degree and order 30 is obtained from Geos 3 satellite to sea surface altimetry data, terrestrial gravity measurements and satellite perturbation analysis. A general perturbation solution is employed for the calculation of the orbits of 10 satellites based on satellite laser ranging data, and 1 deg x 1 deg surface gravity data are used to compute 550 km x 550 km block anomalies by means of autocovariance analysis. Altimeter-determined sea-surface heights, which are taken as the geoid, are averaged for each 1 deg x 1 deg ocean surface area and treated by autocovariance analysis to obtain 550 x 550 km block undulations. Observation and normal equations are formed from the altimeter and surface gravity data, which together cover 1635 out of 1654 possible surface elements, and are combined with the available satellite-derived normal equations to obtain a solution for the spherical harmonics coefficients. In addition, a value of 6,378,138.23 + or - 1.3 m is obtained for the earth's semimajor axis.

Gaposchkin, E. M.↗

New Analysis of Lunar Prospector Radio Tracking Data Brings the Nearside Gravity Field of the Moon with an Unprecedented Resolution

A new analysis of the Doppler tracking data from the Lunar Prospector mission in 1999 revealed a number of previously-unseen gravity anomalies at spatial scales as small as 27 km over the nearside. The tracking data at low altitudes (50 km or below) were better analyzed to resolve the nearside features without dampening from a power law constraint, by partitioning the gravity parameters concentrated on either the nearside or farside. The resulting model presents gravity anomalies correlated with topography with a correlation coefficient of 0.7 or higher from degree 50 to 150, the widest bandwidth yet. The gravity-topography admittance of approx. 70 mGal/km is found from numerous craters of which diameters are 60 km or less. In addition, the new model produces orbits that fit to independent radio tracking data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Kaguya (SELENE) better than previous gravity models. This high-resolution model can be of immediate use to geophysical analysis of small craters. Our technique could be applied to an upcoming mission, the Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory and useful to extract short wavelength signals from the MESSENGER Doppler data.

Han, Shin-Chan↗

Shape, Mean Radius, Gravity Field and Interior Structure of Callisto

Radio Doppler data generated by the Deep Space Network (DSN) from five encounters of the Galileo spacecraft with Callisto, Jupiter's outermost Galilean satellite, have been used to determine the quadrupole moments of the satellite's external gravitational field.

Galileo Mission gravity radio science Jupiter sate↗

Antarctic marine gravity field from high-density satellite altimetry

High-density (about 2-km profile spacing) Geosat/GM altimetry profiles were obtained for Antarctic waters (6-deg S to 72 deg S) and converted to vertical gravity gradient, using Laplace's equation to directly calculate gravity gradient from vertical deflection grids and Fourier analysis to construct gravity anomalies from two vertical deflection grids. The resultant gravity grids have resolution and accuracy comparable to shipboard gravity profiles. The obtained gravity maps display many interesting and previously uncharted features, such as a propagating rift wake and a large 'leaky transform' along the Pacific-Antarctic Rise.

Sandwell, David T.↗

Combination solution for gravity field including altimetry

A previous global solution for the earth's gravitational field and station positions employed a combination of 21 weeks of Doppler tracking data from seven satellites, a complete set of 5-deg mean gravity anomalies, and geometric constraints from the worldwide satellite triangulation network on 17 of the stations. To this is now added geoid heights over the major part of the oceans obtained from GEOS 3 altimeter observations. The solution has a form based on the simple density-layer method and is equivalent to a solution in spherical harmonics to the tenth degree and order. The rms difference of 5-deg mean geoid heights of the new solution with the GEM 10 solution is 5.6 m.

Chovitz, B. H.↗

Mars Gravity Field From Dual Satellite Observations

Two strategies are examined in this paper to improve the spherical harmonic representations of the Martian gravitational field. Continous observation over a week-long data arc and a 30th degree gravitational field are assumed for analysis.

Mars↗

The formation and analysis of a 5 deg equal area block terrestrial gravity field

A set of 23,355 1 degree x 1 degree mean free air anomalies were used to predict a set of 5 degree equal area anomalies and their standard errors. Using the 1 degree data incorporating geophysically predicted values of ACIC, 1283 5 degree blocks were computed. Excluding the geophysically predicted anomalies 1249 blocks were computed. The 1 degree data were also used to compute covariance functions and the equatorial gravity and flattening implied by this data. The predicted anomalies were supplemented by model anomalies to form a complete 1654 global anomaly field. These data were used in a weighted least squares to determine potential coefficients to degree 15, and in a summation type formulation to determine potential coefficients to degree 25. These potential coefficients sets are compared to recent satellite determinations.

Rapp, R. H.↗

Refinement of Earth's gravity field with Topex GPS measurements

The NASA Ocean Topography Experiment satellite TOPEX will carry a microwave altimeter accurate to a few centimeters for the measurement of ocean height. The capability can be fully exploited only if TOPEX altitude can be independently determined to 15 cm or better. This in turn requires an accurate gravity model. The gravity will be tuned with selected nine 10-day arcs of laser ranging, which will be the baseline tracking data type, collected in the first six months of TOPEX flight. TOPEX will also carry onboard an experimental Global Positioning System (GPS) flight receiver capable of simultaneously observing six GPS satellites above its horizon to demonstrate the capability of GPS carrier phase and P-code pseudorange for precise determination of the TOPEX orbit. It was found that subdecimeter orbit accuracy can be achieved with a mere two-hour arc of GPS tracking data, provided that simultaneous measurements are also made at six of more ground tracking sites. The precision GPS data from TOPEX are also valuable for refining the gravity model. An efficient technique is presented for gravity tuning using GPS measurements. Unlike conventional global gravity tuning, this technique solves for far fewer gravity parameters in each filter run. These gravity parameters yield local gravity anomalies which can later be combined with the solutions over other parts of the earth to generate a global gravity map. No supercomputing power will be needed for such combining. The approaches used in this study are described and preliminary results of a covariance analysis presented.

Wu, Sien-Chong↗