Citation
Abstract
By using ground digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) apparatus installed at Goldstone (DSS 14) and Ballima, Australia (DSS 43), ramped carrier frequency doppler data were received from Pioneer 10 just prior to and shortly after Jupiter encounter, The analysis of these DCO doppler data resulted in three independent topocentric range measurements. These range measurements were individually accurate to at least +5 km. The observed accuracy was 500 m but because of suspected systematic errors which were masked by the orbit adjustment procedure the actual accuracy was probably larger than 500 m. From the data residuals based on local orbital adjustments, the DCO data were no different from conventional doppler. The data error was on the order of 2 mHz. A longer solution was also attempted, whereby a Jupiter barycenter to Earth barycenter distance was found. The difference between the estimated barycenter-to-barycenter distance and that from the reference planetary ephemeris DE84 was — 107 km. This difference was not significant because DE84 has a one standard deviation error of 250 km.
Details
- Volume
- 42-21
- Published
- June 15, 1974
- Pages
- 32–40
- File Size
- 660.3 KB