Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Feb 1988
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1988aj.....95..576n&link_type=abstract
Astronomical Journal (ISSN 0004-6256), vol. 95, Feb. 1988, p. 576-578.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
4
Gravitational Constant, Space Laboratories, Spaceborne Experiments, Spacecraft Orbits, Two Body Problem, Aerodynamic Drag, Geosynchronous Orbits
Scientific paper
The size of an artificial two-body system for measuring the universal constant of gravity G in space is limited by the requirement that the experiment has to be performed inside a rigid drag-free spacecraft; the size of the space laboratory determines how large its orbital distance from Earth must be to overcome tidal effects. In addition, the gravitational attraction between the two masses must be intense enough to allow accurate measurements even in the presence of various perturbing effects. As a consequence, the authors do not expect a space experiment of this kind over distance scales of a hundred meters to be realized for several decades to come. However, the geosynchronous orbit is adequate for a drag-free spacecraft of realistic size in which the experiment is feasible, provided all sources of perturbations present in the space environment are modeled and/or controlled.
Farinella Paolo
Milani Andrea
Nobili Anna M.
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