Spin rate and spin axis orientation of LARES spectrally determined from Satellite Laser Ranging data |
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| Authors: | D Kucharski T Otsubo G Kirchner G Bianco |
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| Institution: | 1. Space Science Division, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, 776, Daedeok-Daero, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-348, South Korea;2. Hitotsubashi University, 2-1 Naka, Kunitachi 186-8601, Japan;3. Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lustbuehelstrasse 46, A-8042 Graz, Austria;4. Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Centro di Geodesia Spaziale “G. Colombo”, P.O. Box 11, 75100 Matera, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) is a powerful technique able to measure spin rate and spin axis orientation of the fully passive, geodetic satellites. This work presents results of the spin determination of LARES – a new satellite for testing General Relativity. 529 SLR passes measured between February 17 and June 9, 2012, were spectrally analyzed. Our results indicate that the initial spin frequency of LARES is f0 = 86.906 mHz (RMS = 0.539 mHz). A new method for spin axis determination, developed for this analysis, gives orientation of the axis at RA = 12h22m48s (RMS = 49m), Dec = −70.4° (RMS = 5.2°) (J2000.0 celestial reference frame), and the clockwise (CW) spin direction. The half-life period of the satellite’s spin is 214.924 days and indicates fast slowing down of the spacecraft. |
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| Keywords: | Satellite Laser Ranging LARES Geodetic satellite Spin determination Spectral analysis |
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