Abstract
SEVERAL workers1–3 have carefully investigated variations in the accelerations of artificial satellites of Earth, but no one seems to have published a systematic study of the errors in orbital predictions. The results of such work4 are presented in this communication. A stochastic model was constructed which takes into account fluctuations in atmospheric density, observational errors, and the correlations introduced by smoothing. Errors in actual predictions issued by the Vanguard Computing Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Computing Center, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and Naval Weapons Laboratory were also computed, for comparison with the theoretical model.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Jacchia, L. G., Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Special Report No. 39 (1960).
Priester, W., and Martin, H. A., Mitteilung der Universitäts-Sternwarte Bonn, No. 29, (1960).
Paetzold, H. K., A Proposal for a Self-Consistent Model of the Upper Atmosphere (Technische Hochschule, München, 1961).
Moe, K., TR-60-0000-09145 (Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., April 1960).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MOE, K. Errors in Orbital Predictions for Artificial Satellites of Earth. Nature 192, 151 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/192151a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/192151a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.