Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the Mars orbital phase of the Mariner 9 trajectory as determined from Earth based radio data. Both the method and accuracy of the orbit determination process are reviewed. Analysis is presented to show the effects of Mars gravity model and node in the plane of the sky errors on the accuracy of orbit determination. In addition the long term evolution of the orbit from insertion through the first 500 revolutions is presented, and decomposed into effects from the Mars garvity field,n-body perturbations, and solar radiation pressure. Since the orbit period is nearly commensurable with the Mars rotational period, the orbit experiences significant resonance perturbations. The primary perturbation is in-track with a maximum amplitude of 1000 km and a wavelength of 39 spacecraft revolutions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Born, G. H. and Tapley B. D.: 1969,Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 6, No. 5.
Chao, C. C.: 1971, JPL Technical Report No. 32-1526, Vol. 6.
Deutsch, A. J.: 1969,ARS J., 536–542.
Gedeon, G. S.: 1969,Celes. Mech. 1, 167.
Haynes, N. R., O'Neil, W. J., and Bollman, W. G.: 1970, paper presented at theAAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Conference, Santa Barbara, California.
Jordan, J. F., Born, G. H., Christensen, E. J., and Reinbold, S. J.: 1972, paper presented at theION National Space Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
Kaula, W. M.: 1966,Proceedings of Symposium on the Trajectories of Artificial Celestial Bodies, Springer-Verlag, Berlin-New York.
Kaula, W. M.: 1966,Theory of Satellite Geodesy, Blaisdell, Waltham, Mass.
Lorell, J., Born, G., Christensen, E., Jordan, J., Laing, P., Martin, W., Sjogren, W., Reasenberg, R., Shapiro, E., and Slater, G.: 1972,Science 175, 317–320.
Lorell, J., Born, G., Christensen, E., Esposito, P., Jordan, J., Laing, P., Sjogren, W., Wong, S., Reasenberg, R., Shapiro, E., and Slater, G.: 1973,Icarus 18 No. 2.
Melbourne, W. G.: 1970, inDynamics to Satellites (1960), Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Mottinger, N. A. and Zielenbach, J. W.: 1972, JPL Technical Memorandum, 391–324.
Moyer, T. D.: 1971, JPL Technical Report 32-0.527.
Null, G. W.: 1969,Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 1, No. 4.
O'Handley, D. A., Russell, R. K., and Jordan, J. F.: 1969, JPL Technical Report 32-1465.
Reynolds, G. W., Holdridge, D. B., Melbourne, W. G., and Mulholland, J. D.: 1971, paper presented at theAIAA 9th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, New York.
Tang, C. C. H. and Greer, C. L.: 1969,AIAA J. 7, No. 8.
Tolson, R. H., Blackshear, W. T., and Anderson, S. G.: 1970,Spacecraft and Rockets, 1095–1100.
de Vaucouleurs, G. H.: 1964,Icarus 3, 236–247.
Wilkins, G.: 1967, in S. Runcorn (ed.),Mantles of the Earth and Terrestrial Planets, Interscience, London.
Zielenbach, J. W. and Jordan, J. F.: 1971, AAS Paper No. 71-391, presented at theAAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialists Conference 1971, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Born, G.H., Christensen, E.J., Ferrari, A.J. et al. The determination of the satellite orbit of Mariner 9. Celestial Mechanics 9, 395–414 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01228580
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01228580