Ken S. Tucker wrote:

On Apr 25, 12:01 am, Richard Saam wrote:

Ken S. Tucker wrote:

....

About the Pioneer Anomaly.
Check out fig.1 in this, (the bottom fig)...
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9903024

I have no conclusions, but an annual effect
"may" be apparent in the data. (A work in
progress).
Regards
Ken S. Tucker

The Planetary Society reports
"that as of March 2007,
the existence of the anomaly is confirmed
by seven independent investigations
using different navigational codes."

Seems definitive.


My post referred to a possible "annual cyclicity"
impressed on the data, that might be explained
by the Earth's relative approach and recession
from the Pioneers as it orbits. If true, the anomaly
of the measurement is a function of "relative velocity".

Could you provide a ref to the "spin anomally"?
Regards
Ken
PS: I engaged briefly with Mr. Turyshev on the
paper I ref'd to above. Check out his foot-note
on pg.5, "orientation of the lover's around the bus".
Well, when I queried him for more details on that
foot-note, he too busted a gut :-).

Yes, a little levity goes a long ways.

When did you talk to Mr. Turyshev?

Perhaps the ongoing Planetary Society analysis of archival data
sheds new light on this 'possible "annual cyclicity"'.

Let's hope for more definitive reporting.

I do not have any reference to the term "spin anomaly"
but only to the JPL papers indicating a "spin deceleration"
indicating such deceleration on the order of .0067 rpm/year.

On the top of your reference pg.6 is stated
"Assume that the slowing of the spin rate
was caused by spacecraft systems that also account
for a few % systematic effect."

This statement indicates the often expressed view
that spin rate deceleration
is due to a spacecraft systematic effect.

I have never seen spin rate deceleration
expressed as an "anomaly"
as the translational deceleration routinely is
perhaps for lack of any envisioned theory to explain
such anomalous spin rate deceleration.

It would appear to be important to initiate
the analysis of archival data
with no preconceived notions
on spin or translational deceleration anomaly.

Let the term "anomaly" fall where it may.

Dimensional analysis indicates there may be a link
between anomalous spacecraft spin
and translational deceleration.

Richard Saam