Knowledge Bank

The equations needed for the incorporation of gravity anomalies as unknown parameters in an orbit determination program are described. These equations were implemented in the Geodyn computer program which was then used to process optical satellite observations. Besides the arc dependent parameters unknowns, we consider 184 15° unknown anomalies and coordinates of 7 tracking stations. Up to 39 arcs (5- 7 day) involving 10 different satellites, were processed. An anomaly solution just from the satellite data and a combination solution with 15° terrestrial anomalies was made. The results with the somewhat limited data sample indicate that the method works. The report gives the 15° anomalies from various solutions and the potential coefficients implied by the different solutions.