Accuracy of gravitational physics tests using ranges to the inner planets
A number of different types of deviations from Kepler's laws for planetary orbits can occur in nonNewtonian metric gravitational theories. These include secular changes in all of the orbital elements and in the mean motion, plus additional periodic perturbations in the coordinates. The first order corrections to the Keplerian motion of a single planet around the Sun due to the parameterized post Newtonian theory parameters were calculated as well as the corrections due to the solar quadrupole moment and a possible secular change in the gravitational constant. The results were applied to the case of proposed high accuracy ranging experiments from the Earth to a Mercury orbiting spacecraft in order to see how well the various parameters can be determined.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado Univ., Boulder (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5756675
- Report Number(s):
- NASA-CR-164080
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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