Aug 1989
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1989nascp3046..141h&link_type=abstract
In NASA, Relativistic Gravitational Experiments in Space p 141-143 (SEE N90-19940 12-90)
Physics
Gravitational Fields, Quadrupoles, Relativistic Effects, Relativity, Spacecraft Trajectories, Trajectory Optimization, Eccentric Orbits, Icarus Asteroid, Perihelions, Precession, Spacecraft Landing
Scientific paper
Icarus is one of the earth-crossing asteroids. It has a semi-major axis of 1.078 AU, giving it a period of 1.12 years, and an eccentricity of 0.827. The perihelion distance is thus 0.187 AU. The inclination of Icarus's orbit is 23 deg. Although it is a small body, it is still massive enough to be essentially immune to non-gravitational forces. These orbital and physical qualities make it an attractive target for testing General Relativity. The close passage to the sun means that it will be subject to a large relativistic perihelion precession; the high eccentricity makes the precession easy to measure; the high inclination allows the solar quadrupole moment (J2) to be simultaneously determined via the nodal precession it predicts. The degeneracy between the relativistic effect and the effect of J2 in the perihelion precession may thus be broken. Results are presented from a preliminary study of a possible trajectory design for an Icarus lander and from a covariance study of the scientific return to be expected from such a mission.
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