Measurement of the Lense-Thirring drag on high-altitude, laser-ranged artificial satellites (original) (raw)
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Abstract
We describe a new method of measuring the Lense-Thirring relativistic nodal drag using LAGEOS together with another high-altitude, laser-ranged, similar satellite with appropriately chosen orbital parameters. We propose, for this purpose, that a future satellite such as LAGEOS II have an inclination supplementary to that of LAGEOS. The experiment proposed here would provide a method for experimental verification of the general relativistic formulation of Mach's principle and measurement of the gravitomagnetic field.
Publication:
Physical Review Letters
Pub Date:
January 1986
DOI:
Bibcode:
Keywords:
- Drag Measurement;
- Lageos (Satellite);
- Satellite Drag;
- Satellite Orbits;
- Spaceborne Lasers;
- Angular Momentum;
- Artificial Satellites;
- High Altitude Environments;
- Satellite Rotation;
- Astrodynamics;
- 04.80.+z