Orbital inferences from GFO with applications to GEOSAT

Abstract

Utilising over a year of satellite laser ranging precise orbits of GFO have been used to investigate (i) the satellite's centre of mass offset; (ii) effective areas for aerodynamic forces and solar radiation and (iii) gravity field enhancement of the GFO/GEOSAT exact repeat mission orbit. The year of data has covered a complete cycle of the geocentric angle between the earth-sun vector and the orbital normal for investigation of non-gravitational forces. The gravity field enhancement has been applied to GEOSAT to quantify orbital improvement of the earlier mission afforded by the more precise tracking of GFO.