A Proposed Computational Method for Estimation of Orbital Elements, Drag Coefficients and Potential Field Parameters from Satellite Measurements-I: Introduction

摘要

A new computational approach for estimating the density of the earth's atmosphere at high altitudes, based on measurements of a satellite's motion through the atmosphere. The problem is formulated as a nonlinear multipoint boundary-value problem that can be solved using quasilinearization and high-speed digital computers. A general machine program has been written in FORTRAN IV, and the results of some illustrative preliminary tests are presented. (Author)