P. Farinella, D. Vokrouhlicky, J.C. Ries, and R.J. Eanes, 1996, "NON-GRAVITATIONAL PHENOMENA AND THE LAGEOS ECCENTRICITY EXCITATIONS", J. Geoph. Res. 102, 2711.

ABSTRACT

the LAGEOS~I satellite orbit is considered. It is suggested that two phenomena are responsible for the major part of these residuals: (i) about $1.2$ \% mismodeling of the LAGEOS~I surface mean radiation pressure coefficient, and (ii) the Yarkovsky-Schach thermal effect with properly modeled evolution of the satellite spin axis. Minor influence is also attributed to the asymmetric reflectivity of the satellite surface and the asymmetric thermal emissivity of the Earth. In all cases we give a suitable and compact formulation for the long-term orbit analysis. It is argued that contrary to the case of the LAGEOS~I along-track residuals adjustment, which does not allow the determination of a particular combination of the Yarkovsky-Schach effect parameters (being insensitive to it), the combined analysis of the along-track residuals and the eccentricity excitations allows for their decorrelation. The resulting value of the Yarkovsky-Schach amplitude is estimated to be approximately $175\;{\rm pm/s}^2$, about twice as large as given in the preceding works. It is also shown that the effect of the radiation pressure of the Earth reflected sunlight (the albedo effect), can be modeled with surprising precision by the redefinition of the satellite surface reflectivity coefficient. In view of the unexplained part of the eccentricity residuals, we discuss the possible importance of several other non-gravitational effects.


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