Satellites as they cross the night sky look like moving stars, which can be accurately tracked by an observer with binoculars as well as by giant radars and large cameras. These observations help to determine the satellite's orbit, which is sensitive to the drag of the upper atmosphere and to any irregularities in the gravity field of the Earth. Analysis of the orbit can be used to evaluate the density of the upper atmosphere and to define the shape of the Earth. Desmond King-Hele was the pioneer of this technique of orbit analysis, and this book tells us how the research began, before the launch of Sputnik in 1957. For thirty years King-Hele and his colleagues at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, developed and applied the technique to reveal much about the Earth and air at a very modest cost. In the 1960s the upper-atmosphere density was thoroughly mapped out for 100 to 2000 km, revealing immense variation of density with solar activity and between day and night. In the 1970s and 1980s a picture of the upper-atmosphere winds emerged, and the profile of the pear-shaped Earth was accurately charted. The number of satellites now orbiting the earth is over 5000. This book is the story of how this inexpensive research of their orbits developed to yield a rich harvest of knowledge about the Earth and its atmosphere, in a scientific narrative that is enlivened with many personal experiences.
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Editorial Reviews
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'... King-Hele skilfully entwines a thorough, well illustrated and well referenced review of his scientific speciality with revealing snatches of autobiography... he has presented us with a first-class cocktail of science and life.' Nature
Book Description
The story of how small changes in satellite orbits have led to great changes in our views of the Earth and atmosphere is told in this narrative from the pioneer of this orbit analysis technique.
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Inside This Book
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It was in 1953 that the metamorphosis of missiles into satellites began. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
lumped harmonics, atmospheric oblateness, atmospheric rotation rate, oblate atmosphere, individual harmonic coefficients, odd zonal harmonics, symmetrical atmosphere, perigee height, orbit analysis, daytime density, perigee distance, lunisolar perturbations, orbital research, geoid height, apogee height, satellite observing, resonance analyses, observational values, spherical atmosphere, accurate orbits, nominal accuracy, orbit determination, visual observers, visual observing, prediction service Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Royal Society, Doreen Walker, Graham Cook, Black Arrow, Blue Streak, National Committee, Erasmus Darwin, Optical Tracking Subcommittee, Space Department, University of Aston, Bob Gooding, Harry Hiller, Alan Winterbottom, Robin Merson, Royal Greenwich Observatory, Technical Note, Black Knight, Clive Brookes, Goddard Space Flight Center, Ordnance Survey, Diana Scott, Doreen Gilmore, Sir Harold Jeffreys, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Appleton Laboratory New!
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
It was in 1953 that the metamorphosis of missiles into satellites began. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
lumped harmonics, atmospheric oblateness, atmospheric rotation rate, oblate atmosphere, individual harmonic coefficients, odd zonal harmonics, symmetrical atmosphere, perigee height, orbit analysis, daytime density, perigee distance, lunisolar perturbations, orbital research, geoid height, apogee height, satellite observing, resonance analyses, observational values, spherical atmosphere, accurate orbits, nominal accuracy, orbit determination, visual observers, visual observing, prediction service Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Royal Society, Doreen Walker, Graham Cook, Black Arrow, Blue Streak, National Committee, Erasmus Darwin, Optical Tracking Subcommittee, Space Department, University of Aston, Bob Gooding, Harry Hiller, Alan Winterbottom, Robin Merson, Royal Greenwich Observatory, Technical Note, Black Knight, Clive Brookes, Goddard Space Flight Center, Ordnance Survey, Diana Scott, Doreen Gilmore, Sir Harold Jeffreys, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Appleton Laboratory New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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This book cites 8
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6
books
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- The Botanic Garden: The Loves of the Plants by Erasmus Darwin on page 223, and page 224
- Isaac Newton: Philosophical Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) by Isaac Newton on page 39
- History of British Space Science by Harrie Massie on page 6
- Has Man a Future? by Bertrand Russell on page 125
- Space Science (Facing the Future) by Ian S. Graham on page 213
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- Measuring the Oceans from Space: The principles and methods of satellite oceanography (Springer Praxis Books / Geophysical Sciences) by Ian S. Robinson on page 145, and page 641
- Tides: A Scientific History by David Edgar Cartwright on page 250
- Exploring Space, Exploring Earth: New Understanding of the Earth from Space Research by Paul D. Lowman Jr in Back Matter
- Space, the Final Frontier? by Giancarlo Genta in Back Matter
- Satellites: Orbits and Missions by Michel Capderou on page 497
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