Independent analysis of the orbits of Pioneer 10 and 11

Abstract

Independently developed orbit determination software is used to analyze the orbits of Pioneer 10 and 11 using Doppler data. The analysis takes into account the gravitational fields of the Sun and planets using the latest JPL ephemerides, accurate station locations, signal propagation delays (e.g., the Shapiro delay, atmospheric effects), the spacecrafts' spin, and maneuvers. New to this analysis is the ability to utilize telemetry data for spin, maneuvers, and other on-board systematic effects. Using data that was analyzed in prior JPL studies, the anomalous acceleration of the two spacecraft is confirmed. We are also able to put limits on any secondary acceleration (i.e., jerk) terms. The tools that were developed will be used in the upcoming analysis of recently recovered Pioneer 10 and 11 Doppler data files.

arXiv comment22 pages, 5 figures; accepted for publication in IJMPD

References in corpus (8)

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• The Study of the Pioneer Anomaly: New Data and Objectives for New Investigation
• Comment on ``Indication, from Pioneer 10/11, Galileo and Ulysses Data, of an Apparent Anomalous, Weak, Long-Range Acceleration''
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Cited by in corpus (12)

• Support for the thermal origin of the Pioneer anomaly
• The Pioneer Anomaly
• High precision thermal modeling of complex systems with application to the flyby and Pioneer anomaly
• Gravitational Anomalies in the Solar System?
• Support for temporally varying behavior of the Pioneer anomaly from the extended Pioneer 10 and 11 Doppler data sets
• Pioneer 10 and 11 orbit determination analysis shows no discrepancy with Newton-Einstein's laws of gravity
• Modelling the reflective thermal contribution to the acceleration of the Pioneer spacecraft
• Conformal Cosmology and the Pioneer Anomaly
• Constraining an Expanding Locally Anisotropic metric from the Pioneer anomaly
• The dynamical nature of time
• Pushing limits: Probing new gravity using a satellite constellation
• The Contribution of Thermal Effects to the Acceleration of the Deep-Space Pioneer Spacecraft