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Space probes feel cosmic tug of bizarre forces



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 12th 04, 11:43 AM
Jonathan Silverlight
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Default Space probes feel cosmic tug of bizarre forces

There's an article about the Pioneer anomaly in today's Observer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/science/story/0,12996,1302722,00.html
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  #2  
Old September 12th 04, 03:07 PM
Tim Auton
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Jonathan Silverlight
wrote:

There's an article about the Pioneer anomaly in today's Observer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/science/story/0,12996,1302722,00.html


Interesting, looks like some folks are trying to get ESA backing for a
mission to check on the anomaly.

Anybody know if Gravity Probe B might provide some insight into to the
Pioneer anomaly? I know it'll remain close to Earth, but it is a
phenomenally accurate instrument.


Tim
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  #3  
Old September 13th 04, 11:55 PM
Chef!
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Tim Auton wrote:
Jonathan Silverlight
wrote:

There's an article about the Pioneer anomaly in today's Observer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/science/story/0,12996,1302722,00.html


Interesting, looks like some folks are trying to get ESA backing for a
mission to check on the anomaly.

Anybody know if Gravity Probe B might provide some insight into to the
Pioneer anomaly? I know it'll remain close to Earth, but it is a
phenomenally accurate instrument.


Tim


Doubtful.

In their original paper, Anderson et al analysed the Galileo and Ulysses
data out at Jupiter and found that at this distance from the Sun, the
anomaly was swamped by the effects of the solar wind. (See
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/104064)

Regards
Chef!


  #4  
Old September 16th 04, 12:03 AM
Jonathan Silverlight
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In message , Chef!
writes
Tim Auton wrote:
Jonathan Silverlight
wrote:

There's an article about the Pioneer anomaly in today's Observer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/science/story/0,12996,1302722,00.html


Interesting, looks like some folks are trying to get ESA backing for a
mission to check on the anomaly.

Anybody know if Gravity Probe B might provide some insight into to the
Pioneer anomaly? I know it'll remain close to Earth, but it is a
phenomenally accurate instrument.


Tim


Doubtful.

In their original paper, Anderson et al analysed the Galileo and Ulysses
data out at Jupiter and found that at this distance from the Sun, the
anomaly was swamped by the effects of the solar wind. (See
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/104064)


But isn't Gravity Probe B nice and snug below the Van Allen belt? You
won't get the same steady acceleration, but it will be very interesting
if there is some unexplained residual in the results.
BTW, Gravity Probe B has got all the headlines because it took so long
to launch and cost so much, but there was a Gravity Probe A a few years
ago.
I just don't think they will get a dedicated mission. The best they can
hope for is an experiment on the New Horizons Pluto probe, if it's
launched and if it's suitable. And IMO Cassini has already produced
evidence against a Pioneer effect. Anderson et al disagree, but it
carried an experiment for this sort of work and that experiment shows no
unexplained residuals. Take this with a pinch of salt - I'm definitely
an amateur.
  #5  
Old September 16th 04, 02:53 AM
Grimble Gromble
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"Jonathan Silverlight" wrote
in message ...
[snip]
But isn't Gravity Probe B nice and snug below the Van Allen belt? You
won't get the same steady acceleration, but it will be very interesting if
there is some unexplained residual in the results.

I could be wrong but ... in principle the gyroscopes are contained within
the spacecraft where they are shielded from virtually all external
influences, including the solar wind, and the spacecraft is manoeuvred about
the gyroscopes.
Grim


 




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