Spacecraft orbit analysis

The true orbit of a spacecraft differs from its reference orbit by small deviations due to errors in planetary and initial data, radiation and impact accelerations, and correction terms to Newton's theory of gravitation. These distortions are usually small enough to have additive effects on range, at the 10m accuracy level, throughout the mission. Closed form expressions are derived (in cylindrical coordinates) for the deviation in range due to any given perturbing acceleration. (5 refs).