Title :
Gravity Probe-B: New Methods to Determine Spin Parameters From kHz SLR Data
Author :
Kirchner, Georg ; Kucharski, Daniel ; Cristea, Elena
Author_Institution :
Space Res. Inst., Austrian Acad. of Sci., Graz
Abstract :
Using kilohertz data of the satellite laser ranging (SLR) station Graz only, the spin parameters of the Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) satellite are derived; these include the spin period over the course of the 1.5-year mission period, as well as spin direction and spin axis orientation. The results are compared to the actual data sets-as determined by the GP-B mission itself-thus allowing independent confirmation of the kilohertz SLR derived results.
Keywords :
celestial mechanics; geophysical techniques; laser ranging; Gravity Probe-B satellite; kilohertz SLR data; satellite laser ranging station Graz; spin axis orientation; spin direction; spin period; Gravity Probe-B (GP-B); kilohertz satellite laser ranging (SLR); spectral analysis; spin axis orientation; spin direction; spin rate;
Journal_Title :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TGRS.2008.2002770
