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At least 109 records · Page 6

Principles of celestial mechanics

Book on celestial mechanics covering perturbation methods, two body problems, astronomical coordinates, orbital mechanics, satellite rotation, gravitational effects, etc

Fitzpatrick, P. M.

Experiments D004 and D007: Celestial radiometry and space object radiometry

Two interferometer spectrometers and a multichannel spectroradiometer were used as sensing instruments during the Gemini 5 and 7 missions. The selection of the instruments and of the particular detectors in the instruments was based upon the spectral bands to be investigated in each flight and upon the nature of the intended measurements. The instrument characteristics were a compromise among optimization for a particular type of measurement, a need for a broad selection of spectral information, and performance and other pertinent characteristics of the spacecraft. Data were collected on earth background, sky background, rocket exhaust plumes, celestial bodies, man made objects in space, weather phenomena, and spectral calibrations.

Lovett, J.

Feasibility study of scanning celestial Attitude System (SCADS) for Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS)

The feasibility of using the Scanning Celestial Attitude Determination System (SCADS) during Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) missions to compute an accurate spacecraft attitude by use of stellar measurements is considered. The spacecraft is local-vertical-stabilized. A heuristic discussion of the SCADS concept is first given. Two concepts are introduced: a passive system which contains no moving parts, and an active system in which the reticle is caused to rotate about the sensor's axis. A quite complete development of the equations of attitude motions is then given. These equations are used to generate the true attitude which in turn is used to compute the transit times of detectable stars and to determine the errors associated with the SCADS attitude. A more complete discussion of the analytical foundation of SCADS concept and its use for the geometries particular to this study, as well as salient design parameters for the passive and active systems are included.

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Surface photometry of celestial sources from a space vehicle - Introduction and observational procedures.

Consideration of the possibility of studying diffuse celestial sources of relatively low surface brightness such as the Milky Way, zodiacal light, and gegenschein from above the earth's atmosphere with equipment flown in artificial satellites. The techniques used for this purpose are reviewed, and some of the difficulties encountered in daytime observations from satellites by the use of a special photometer and polarimeter flown in the orbiting skylab observatory, OSO-6, are cited.

Roach, F. E.

Encounter trajectory design for SEP rendezvous with low mass celestial bodies.

This paper shows the considerations which precede and affect encounter trajectory design and the impact of this design on propulsion system performance requirements and interplanetary trajectory design. Representative missions selected to illustrate the problems and characteristics of encounter trajectory design are a Mercury Orbiter, Eros Rendezvous, Encke Rendezvous, and Ceres Orbiter. The paper shows that for SEP missions, particularly for low mass celestial bodies, the encounter trajectory may be freely specified to a large extent to satisfy mission goals rather than being dictated by a rigid interplanetary trajectory design.

Driver, J. M.