Determination of the geocentric gravitational constant from laser ranging on near-Earth satellites
Abstract
Laser range observations taken on the near-earth satellites of Lageos (a = 1.92 e.r.), Starlette (a = 1.15 e.r.), BE-C (a = 1.18 e.r.) and Geos-3 (a = 1.13 e.r.), have been combined to determine an improved value of the geocentric gravitational constant (GM). The value of GM is 398600.61 km³/sec², based upon a speed of light, c, of 299792.5 km/sec. Using the IAG adopted value of c equalling 299792.458 km/sec scales GM to 398600.44 km³/sec². The uncertainty in this value is assessed to be ± .02 km³/sec². Determinations of GM from the data taken on these four satellites individually show variations of only .04 km³/sec² from the combined result. The Lageos information dominated the combined solution, and gave the most consistent results in its data subset solutions. The value obtained for GM from near-earth laser ranging compares quite favorably with the most recent results of the lunar laser and interplanetary experiments.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- December 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1029/GL005i012p01031
- Bibcode:
- 1978GeoRL...5.1031L
- Keywords:
-
- Earth Gravitation;
- Geocentric Coordinates;
- Gravitational Constant;
- Laser Range Finders;
- Satellite Observation;
- Interplanetary Spacecraft;
- Lageos (Satellite);
- Lunar Rangefinding;
- Mechanical Measurement;
- Satellite Orbits;
- Geodesy and Gravity: Artificial satellite techniques;
- Geodesy and Gravity: Low-order harmonics of the gravity potential field;
- Geodesy and Gravity: Instruments and techniques