A MAGYAR            MITTEILUNGEN 
			 TUDOMÁNYOS AKADÉMIA            DER 
  		            CSILLAGVIZSGÁLÓ          STERNWARTE 
  			      INTÉZETÉNEK    DER UNGARISCHEN AKADEMIE
                	      KÖZLEMÉNYEI        DER WISSENSCHAFTEN

         			  BUDAPEST-SZABADSÁGHEGY



           				  Nr. 59








        		      E. ILLÉS-ALMÁR AND I. ALMÁR







   			     PERIOD CHANGES OF THE SATELLITE 
				     1960 EPSILON 3 
			       IN 1963/64 AS DEDUCED FROM 
				   OBSERVATIONS WITHIN 
			          THE INTEROBS PROGRAM


















          			 BUDAPEST, 1965		
				 
				 
				 
				 
		PERIOD CHANGES OF THE SATELLITE 1960 epsilon3 IN 1963/64
			AS DEDUCED FROM OBSERVATIONS WITHIN
				THE INTEROBS PROGRAM*

					by

			   E. ILLÉS-ALMÁR and I. ALMÁR


	Zusammenfassung. Aus [7] wurden die Beobachtungen des Satelliten 1960 epsilon3 
(Kabine Sputnik 4) ausgewählt und die besten 39 Durchgänge, die sich zwischen 21 August 
1963 und 27 Sept. 1964 verteilen, bearbeitet. Zuerst berechnete eine elektronische 
Rechenmaschine nach der Methode [9] die zu 393 simultanen Vermessungen gehörigen XYZR 
Raumkoordinaten des Satelliten. Dann wurde (nach einem Vorschlag von I. D. Shongolowitsch) 
bei jedem Durchgang die Durchgangszeit des Satelliten über einen ausgewählten geographischen 
Breitenkreis bestimmt (Tab. 3). Insofern die Periode sich gleichmässig 
änderte, konnte die Beschleunigung pro Umlauf dP/dn mittels der Abweichungen zwischen den 
beobachteten und den mit einer konstanten Periode berechneten Durchgangszeiten bestimmt 
werden. Es wurden für 31 Durchgänge (267 Raumpunkte enthaltend) Periodenänderungen dP/dn
berechnet (Tab. 4). In allen beobachteten Zeitabständen war die Periodenänderung konstant, 
mit Ausnahme der ersten, wo am 26 August 1963 der |dP/dn| Wert - parallel mit einer Verminderung 
der Sonnenfleckenzahl und der Gesamtfläche der Sonnenflecken - plötzlich abgenommen hat 
(Tab. 5, Abb. 2-8). Diese Änderung war sechsmal grösser als der Standardfehler der vorherigen 
dP/dn Werte und entsprach einer Verminderung der Luftdichte in der Perigeumhöhe (255 km) 
um 31%. Es ist bemerkenswert, dass die |dP/dn| Werte in Juli und Sept. wesentlich kleiner waren 
als die früheren. Diese Verminderung konnte auch unabhängig davon durch den zeitlichen 
Verlauf der Umlaufszeit bewiesen werden. Dieser Umstand hängt wahrscheinlich auch mit der 
Abnahme der Sonnenaktivität zusammen und daraus folgt der prolongierte Untergang des Satelliten.


					INTRODUCTION

	Air drag is playing a vital role among perturbing forces acting upon the motion of 
artificial satellites. Its effect becomes visible in the decrease of a, e and the period of 
revolution (P), these changes being connected with air density in the region near perigee. 
The decrease of the nodal period of revolution, easily measurable by observing the 
satellite's reappearance above a given geographic latitude, yealds a suitable tool for the 
investigation of the influence of air drag on satellite motion. As the deviations between 
observed and calculated transit times (O-C), on the one hand, and the rate of period

	* Paper presented at The International Symposium on Satellite Tracking (October 
14-17, 1965, Budapest.)

change, on the other hand, are closely connected, even a regular tracking  
network of comparatively small extent might produce valuable data for  
atmospheric physics. Experience shows, however, that the density of upper  
atmosphere depends on the intensity of solar activity, hence satellite orbit  
studies may lead to a better understanding of geophysical influences of the  
Sun in general.

	Several successful attempts have been made to utilize optical obser- 
vations - including also rough visual fixes available in large quantities - in  
order to investigate changes in the orbital elements of artificial satellites [1].  
As optical observations in the general case give only the direction of the satellite
with respect to the tracking station, the determination of orbital elements  
is usually carried out by means of classical celestial mechanics based on a  
set of observations and on the method of successive approximation (Laplace,  
Gauss). From an adequate number of optical fixes orbital elements can be  
obtained, referring to the whole time interval during which the observational  
material has been collected. The method is more effective if the material is  
of higher accuracy, more extensive, and covers a longer portion of the whole  
orbit [2]. In practice, however, because of the quick changes in the elements  
of artificial satellites due to deviations of the Earth's gravitational field from  
a central field and also due to air drag, some assumptions must be introduced  
concerning the direction and speed of changes in the orbital elements in the  
period under investigation.

	If perfect synchronism of observations carried out from a base line of  
appropriate length on the same satellite can be guaranteed in some way or  
another, the instantaneous position in space of the satellite is fixed. In this 
 
case orbit studies which are based on a limited number of observations are  
possible. This possibility means, in a fortunate case, a shorter time interval  
during which the shift of orbital elements may be either easily taken into  
account or neglected. This fact, important mainly for low-orbit satellites,  
gives an opportunity of studying even quick changes of certain orbital elements 
 
(e.g. period of revolution).

	The synchronism of optical fixes may be assured, in general, by several 
 
methods:
	
	a). If short light signals are emitted by a satellite at definite times 
 
(e.g. ANNA-1B), the position of the satellite with respect to the stars can  
be photographed from stations at both ends of a base line. This is the best  
solution of the problem, but owing to technical difficulties it cannot be used  
frequently.

	b) If the camera control systems are connected so that they are activ- 
ated by the same time signal, then every satellite illuminated by the sun can  
be photographed simultaneously from the tracking stations. The drawback  
of the method is that this perfect synchronism encounters serious technical  
difficulties.

	c) If the apparent path of the satellite is supposed to be a great 
circle,  
pairs of simultaneous observations may be selected quite independently of  
time statements [3]. The topocentric radius vector M_2S belonging to a given  
topocentric radius vector M_1S must lie, however, in the plane defined by the  
known radius vector M_1S and the base line M_1M_2, and also in the, plane  
described by the apparent path of the satellite (notations see on Fig. 1). The  
line of intersection of these planes fixes the direction of the satellite from  
                                   
M_2 at a specified moment. One drawback of this method is that it requires 
extensive calculations.

         d) An interpolation can be used to select a pair of simultaneous observ- 
ations, frequent and consecutive from at least one of the stations and sporadic 
from the other, occurring within the same time interval. It is well known 
that the apparent orbit of an artificial satellite is quite smooth within an 
interval of less than a minute. Therefore this method has the advantage of 
reducing the random errors in the observations, since the interpolated values  
represent mean values of a set of observed azimuthal or equatorial coordinates, 
provided the orbit is smooth. The method was used in both the Soviet and 
American triangulation programs [4], [5]; it has been introduced by M. Ill 
to visual observations [6].

       In order to increase the number of simultaneous observations a special 
network of Hungarian, German, later Soviet, Bulgarian, Polish and Roumanian 
tracking stations was established in 1961/62 under the designation INTEROBS. 
It has been organized, according to its coordinator Mr. M. Ill, for the purpose 
of performing serial observations within previously fixed time intervals on 
certain artificial satellites. All observations obtained during these intervals 
(„campaigns") were summarized and published at Baja (Hungary) [7]. Several 
methods have been suggested [8] to evaluate simultaneous observations 
selected from this material by means of graphic interpolation. The aim of the 
present paper is to investigate tracking data on the cabin of Sputnik 4 (1960 epsilon3) 
using a combination of methods proposed at the conference of satellite observers 
at Riga in 1965.

       Our experiences have shown that the observational material of the first 
INTEROBS cycles, collected mainly in Eastern Europe, did not enclose a 
portion of the orbit long enough to allow exact determination of all orbital 
elements (e and omega in particular) separately for every revolution. Hence, follow- 
ing a proposal of I. D. Zhongolovich, we intended only to study the changes 
of the nodal period of revolution of the satellite.

       From the material available simultaneous observations carried out in 
the following intervals have been selected: 21-30 Aug. 1963, 17 Feb., 10-13 
Apr., 8-13 June, 7-12 July and 18-27 Sept. 1964.
       Evaluation has been limited to the following transits:


                                        TABLE 1


                        Dates           No. of transit   Number of sim. pairs
                                           in [7]          of observations



                1963
                     21 Aug.                  2                 6
                     22                       4                 15
                     23                       5                 9
                     23                       6                 18
                     24                       7                 1
                     24                       8                 8
                     25                       9                 2
                     26                       12                9
                     27                       13                8
                     27                       14                4



                               TABLE 1 (cont.)

                                No. of transit Number of sim. pairs
                    Date            in [7]       of observations

                   29                16               12
                   29                17               5
                   30                19               5
              1964
                   17 Feb.           27               14
                   10 Apr.           38               1
                   10                40               1
                   11                42               22
                   12                46               32
                   13                49               5
                   8 June            71               4
                   9                 77               3
                   11                83               1
                   12                85               17
                   13                89               3
                   13                92               1
                   7 July            93               28
                   8                 94               21
                   9                 95               27
                   10                96               6
                   12                98               18
                   18 Sept.          118              10
                   20                119              12
                   22                120              9
                   22                122              16
                   23                123              7
                   24                127              2
                   25                128              5
                   26                134              8
                   27                138              18


            Total: 39 transits 393 simultaneous points


     The contribution of tracking stations to the observational material is
the following

                                  TABLE 2

                                Country        Station   Number of
                                               number      fixes

           Ryazan              U.S.S.R.        1042        136
           Baja                Hungary         1113        124
           Budapest            Hungary         1111        84
           Vologda             U.S.S.R.        1014        84
           Arkhangelsk         U.S.S.R.        1004        80
           Cluj                Roumania        1132        47
           Chernovtsy          U.S.S.R.        1062        45
           Riga                U.S.S.R.        1040        36
           Kiev                U.S.S.R.        1023        29
           Kishinev            U.S.S.R.        1024        27
           Bautzen             G.D.R.          1120        21

					
					TABLE 2 (cont.)

			  	Country		Station		Number of
						number		fixes

		Tartu	 	U.S.S.R.	1051		17
		Olsztyn	  	Poland		1151		17
		Rostov	  	U.S.S.R.	1041		14
		Rodewisch 	G.D.R.		1185		8
		Erevan	  	U.S.S.R.	1018		7
		Dnepropetrovsk	U.S.S.R.	1017		5
		Stara Zagora	Bulgaria	1102		5
		Birsk		U.S.S.R.	1085		4
		Kazan		U.S.S.R.	1020		1
		Petrozavodsk	U.S.S.R.	1038		1
		Zvenigorod	U.S.S.R.	1072		1
			
		Total: 22 stations	793 fixes.

		
	Plotting the celestial coordinates against time, pairs of simultaneous observations
have been selected by the aforementioned method of graphic interpolation. If serial fixes 
were made from several stations at the same time, we tried to adopt the procedure of 
interpolation on the sequences of each station. Single observations are weighted by 1; 
coordinates interpolated at the beginning or at the end of a sequence (uncertain values) 
by 2; reliably interpolated values by 3.

	The authors would like to thank Mr M. Ill and Mr K. Süto for kindly permitting the 
use of pairs of simultaneous points selected by them from the material of the Aug. 1963, 
Feb. and Apr. 1964 intervals.


					THE METHOD


	Instantaneous positions in space of the satellite have been determined from pairs 
of simultaneous fixes according to the procedure proposed at the Riga conference [9]. Its 
program used in the computer reduction (electronic computer Type Elliott 803) is given in 
the Appendix.

	Starting from observations in the equatorial coordinates (alpha_1 delta_1 and 
alpha_2 delta_2 respectively) equations are written for planes in a rectangular system 
fixed in space, satisfying the following two conditions: a) they each contain one 
observing station, M_1 or M_2; b) they contain angles alpha_1 and alpha_2 with the [XY] 
plane of the coordinate system respectively.

	The coordinates x_s and y_s of the satellite are given by the line of intersection 
of the planes (mu). If straight lines are drawn inside these planes containing the angles 
90° - delta_1, 90° - delta_2 (measured from the North Pole) from stations M_1 and M_2 
respectively, their intersection with mu provides two fictitious positions of the 
satellite in space (S_I, S_II) (see Fig. 1). Forming their appropriately weighted mean 
value, points in space can be obtained which 

	

				Fig. 1.

serve as a basis for further calculations (S_1, S2,...). The set of equations used is a 
simple consequence of the basic equation of cosmic triangulation [10]:

		

It is to be noted that the method offers the advantage of providing a pair of solutions 
even in the case of not absolutely accurate observations (without a least-squares 
solution), as the errors in the initial data present themselves in the deviation of the 
two different results for the z_s coordinate of the satellite. The use of serial fixes 
makes a graphic smoothing of the x_s, y_s, z_s and  values feasible.

	I. D. Zhongolovich proposed in a paper presented at the Riga conference under the 
title "Remarks to the Interobs program" that changes of the nodal period of revolution of 
satellites should be determined from the visual observations. He proved that sequences of 
spatial positions give transit times above a given geographic latitude circle (phi_0) 
accurate to at least a few tenths of a second. Consequently from two passes observed on 
two consecutive nights the mean period of revolution of the satellite is determinable to 
a few hundredths of a second. There is hereby a hopeful possibility to analyse quick period 
changes of low-orbit satellites with an adequate accuracy.

	First of all the geocentric latitude of the subsatellite points (phi_n) is needed. 
It can be easily derived from space coordinates, namely through

				

Plotting phi_n, as a function of the epoch of observation (t_n) we are able to perform on 
the smoothed curve a graphic determination of the satellite's crossing time over the given 
latitude circle (t_0). The numerical procedure proposed by Zhongolovich is more accurate 
and makes extrapolation possible. If the path element in question is short, equation

			

holds true, where

			

if R_n and a are expressed in kilometers, (t_n - t_0) in seconds and (mu_n - mu_0)
in degrees.

	Calculating the transit times t_0 belonging to phi_0 from every pair (t_n phi_n) 
separately, their mean value  is to be formed. As a first step, however, 
approximate values of i, a and e are needed. Orbital elements published by prediction 
services might be used as a first approximation. Taking them as a starting point, all t_0 
values on a selected long transit of high quality should be calculated. If the t_0 values 
thus obtained show a monotonous decrease or increase as a function of time, the adopted 
value of i has to be corrected. To derive its correct value we may proceed as follows: if 
e.g. t_01 < t_0 < t_02 where t_01 and t_02 are arbitrary t_0 values at the 
beginning (t_n1) and at the end (t_n2) of the given transit respectively, we have

		

Dashed letters are the corrected quantities. A mean value of i', derived from
several pairs of (t_n1, t_n2) equals the correct inclination of the orbital 
plane.

	Then follows the determination of a using  values of a pair of well
observed transits separated by nearly 24 hours . With the approximate value of the 
orbital period, the revolution number (n) between the two selected transits can 
be guessed. 
Hence we get
				

the nodal period of revolution in a closer approximation. Kepler's third law then yields a 
(the deviation between nodal and sidereal period of revolution is not significant - 
see later) and combining it with e we obtain kappa. The value of e can be easily estimated 
if there are observations near perigee or apogee (i.e. R_per or R_ap is known), because 
then

				

will hold.

	Finally, using the corrected i and kappa values, the calculation of t_0 from every 
point of every transit has to be completed. It is advisable to choose phi_0 inside or at 
least near to the observed portions of the orbits in question, but experience shows that 
it is acceptable also if subsatellite points are not farther from the selected latitude 
circle than 6-8 degrees. The mean value of the t_0 values represents the observed crossing 
time over the latitude phi_0 during a given transit:

				

For organizational reasons, as a rule, Interobs cycles lasted 7-10 days per month, 
therefore period changes were investigated within each cycle separately.

	Calculations may be carried out as follows. Let us suppose as a first approximation 
that the period is constant and equals to its approximate value, P', furthermore that the 
starting epoch

				

Plotting the O - C values against time, usually a parabola is obtained, in accordance with 
the general tendency of decreasing of the period of revolution. Then the P_0 period, 
belonging to the first of the transits observed, is to be determined, using either graphic 
or - following a proposal of M. Ill - numerical solution. He supposes that during the 
given time interval nodal period increases steadily by Delta sec per each revolution, 
then

				

where

				

and the period changes during one revolution by

				

where (O - C)_k belongs to the k^th, (O - C)_n to the n^th orbit and 
n > k. For practical purposes two well observed transits should be selected.

	Repeating the calculation of residuals using the P_0 value from either the graphic 
or the numerical solution we have

				

which yields as a result the rate of change of the nodal period for each transit 
separately

				

If these results are equal, i.e. Delta_n = const., our assumption appears to be valid and 
the procedure yields the period change in the whole interval in question. If Delta_n 
varies, we should try to divide the interval into several parts and select points near 
enough to each other to allow the determination of a Delta_n = const. value. In practice 
it may seem reasonable to plot first 2(O - C)_n as a function of n(n - 1) and test whether 
the points lie on a single straight line or not. If it can be assumed that Delta_n = const., 
it is worth while to carry out the inverse procedure, namely to determine P_z, the period 
of revolution belonging to the last transit of the interval. Then in the opposite direction

			

hence Delta_m can be calculated exactly in the same manner as in the previous case.

	The influence of the errors of the observed O_n values on Delta_n being inversly 
proportional to n(n - 1), we formed a weighted mean of the Delta_n and Delta_m pairs for 
every transit separately

			

The result has been considered as the rate of decrease of the period (in sec/rev) during 
the time interval under consideration.


					RESULTS


	The part of the observational material published in [7], seemingly most suitable 
to an investigation of the type outlined above, consisted of 39 transits of 1960 epsilon3. 
Altogether 6 transits have been rejected, partly because the path element observed was too 
far from the latitude circle phi_0 (pass No. 5), partly because it belonged to a time 
interval where the number of suitable transits to deduce period changes proved to be 
insufficient (pass No. 27 and passes No. 77, 83, 89, 92 respectively).

	One third of all positions in space, given by the computer program, have been 
similarly neglected (126 points out of 393). These points have been rejected because
	a) they belong to transits already cancelled;
	b) they were far from the latitude circle phi_0;
	c) the length of their radius vector, R, differed considerably from all other R 
values of the transit (in some cases it is a consequence of the decreased parallax of the 
satellite as seen from the pair of stations);

	d) another set of XYZR values could be derived from other observations but 
referring to the same moment. In this case corresponding quantities have been averaged.

	A review of the whole observational material is given in Table 1. Positions in 
space actually used, the partial results of the Zhongolovich method and transit times are 
summarized in Table 3.

					TABLE 3


		t_n		z_n	R_n	t_0-t_n		t_0
	h	m	s	km	km	s	h	m	s
1963					
   21.8	20	34	2.8	6020.	6858.83	 20.1	20	34	22.9
		34	6.7	6010.5	6848.37	 19.9		34	26.6
   22.8	21	4	17.9	6110.43	6859.57	 81.2	21	5	39.1
		4	31.4	6090.99	6861.64	 64.9		5	36.3
		4	36.4	6087.69	6861.62	 62.5		5	38.9
		4 	40.2	6082.55	6861.98	 58.7		5	38.9
		5	3.7	6052.	6863.	 37.6		5	41.3
		5	5.3	6048.	6864.	 34.5		5	39.8
		5	27.2	6015.09	6862.84	 15.3		5	42.5
		6	5.0	5942.	6866.	-25.1		5	39.9
		6	24.0	5902.50	6867.69	-44.7		5	39.3
		6	34.2	5878.51	6866.34	-55.1		5	39.1
		6 	44.0	5853.54	6862.84	-64.7		5	39.3
   23.8	20	3	43.9	6094.75	6857.87	 70.2	20	4	54.1
		3	51.9	6082.94	6855.64	 62.9		4	54.8
		4	3.1	6062.33	6856.60	 47.9		4	51.0
		4	5.8	6060.84	6855.22	 47.7		4	53.5
		4	30.0	6022.95	6857.82	 22.4		4	52.4
		4	43.4	6001.38	6860.18	  8.8		4	52.2
		4	58.7	5974.39	6859.39	 -5.6		4	53.1
		5	5.0	5970.77	6874.76	-10.0		4	55.0
		5	46.5	5874.21	6858.28	-53.8		4	52.7
		6	5.0	5833.03	6859.42	-72.2		4	52.8
   24.8	19	4	0.2	5741.15	6588.34	  3.7	19	4	3.9
	20	34	57.6	6083.11	6851.52	 65.6	20	36	3.2
		35	15.1	6058.43	6853.67	 47.0		36	2.1
		35	17.8	6054.62	6851.09	 46.0		36	3.8
		35	38.5	6024.46	6856.65	 23.9		36	2.4
		36	29.0	5932.74	6858.58	-26.5		36	2.5
   25.8	19	34	4.3	6103.25	6865.52	 71.6	19	35	15.9
		36	28.6	5831.57	6879.74	-80.5		35	8.1
   26.8	20	5	26.8	6062.73	6859.66	 46.4	20	6	13.2
		5	30.4	6058.48	6858.20	 44.5		6	14.9
		5	32.7	6055.18	6857.24	 42.8		6	15.5
		5	33.3	6054.48	6857.11	 42.5		6	15.8
		5	40.4	6044.36	6855.46	 36.9		6	17.3
		6	0.4	6012.86	6856.22	 17.3		6	17.7
		7	39.0	5808.94	6855.04	-80.6		6	18.4
   27.8	19	5	14.4	6000.01	6855.34	 10.4	19	5	24.8
		5	52.1	5938.	6858.99	 24.1		5	28.0
		6	4.0	5912.84	6874.50	-42.7		5	21.3


				TABLE 3 (cont.)
					
		t_n		R_n	t_0-t_n			t_0
						
	h	m	s	km	km	  s	h	m	s

		6	5.0	5910.95	6875.98	 -44.2		5	20.8
		6	39.3	5825.51	6857.24	 -74.5		5	24.8
	20	36	49.8	6092.35	6928.63	  27.3	20	37	17.1
		39	3.7	5760.66	6860.36	-101.9		37	21.8
		39	4.6	5754.54	6854.32	-102.1		37	22.5
		39	5.6	5747.28	6844.68	-101.5		37	24.1
   29.8	18	34	32.3	6073.52	6855.59	  56.2	18	35	28.5
		34	59.1	6032.15	6857.14	  28.3		35	27.4
		35	3.8	6029.80	6860.94	  24.9		35	28.7
		35	4.6	6031.07	6863.07	  24.6		35	29.2
		35	5.5	6032.27	6865.09	  24.2		35	29.7
		36	3.8	5905.21	6851.47	 -36.7		35	27.1
		36	4.8	5903.23	6851.77	 -37.8		35	27.0
		36	6.1	5901.27	6852.49	 -39.0		35	27.1
		36	10.5	5900.06	6859.18	 -42.4		35	28.1
	20	7	23.4	5990.36	6862.02	   1.8	20	7	25.2
		7	49.8	5939.31	6863.97	 -25.6		7	24.2
		7	52.9	5941.68	6871.21	 -27.6		7	25.3
   30.8	19	6	34.6	5968.99	6859.71	  -8.6	19	6	26.0
		6	34.8	5969.20	6859.39	  -8.3		6	25.5
1964					
   10.4	18	14	7.5	5107.44	6753.54	 10.6	18	14	18.1
	19	46	14.2	5287.86	6780.66	-32.9	19	45	41.3
   11.4	18 	34 	37.2	4888.92	6822.06	 78.5	18	35	55.7
		34 	40.8	4902.36	6817.63	 74.4		35	55.2
		34	43.3	4910.40	6813.19	 71.6		35	54.9
		34 	44.9	4916.75	6812.34	 69.9		35	54.8
		34	48.1	4927.56	6806.41	 66.2		35	54.3
		34	51.0	4940.47	6806.28	 63.0		35	54.0
		34	52.5	4944.53	6903.25	 61.5		35 	54.0
		34	56.3	4963.	6801.32	 56.6		35	52.9
		34	59.0	4974.	6795.90	 52.8		35	51.8
		34	59.6	4976.64	6805.79	 54.1		35	53.7
		35	2.9	4994.18	6810.19	 50.7		35	53.6
		35	5.9	5009.50	6813.21	 47.6		35	53.5
		35	9.8	5027.16	6814.47	 43.3		35	53.1
		35	11.5	5032.33	6812.09	 41.5		35	53.0
		35	13.1	5037.87	6810.68	 39.9		35	53.0
		35	15.8	5047.97	6809.14	 37.0		35	52.8
		35	18.4	5056.	6802.86	 33.7		35	52.1
		35	20.8	5059.60	6799.49	 32.2		35	53.0
		35	24.9	5072.70	6795.92	 28.1		35	53.0
   12.4	18	57	18.0	5143.25	6781.82	  6.9	18	57	24.9
		57	23.5	5175.94	6790.47	  0.0		57	23.5
		57	28.7	5195.29	6790.15	 -5.3		57	23.4
		57	31.7	5201.69	6786.30	 -7.8		57	23.9
		57	33.9	5207.49	6786.19	 -9.4		57	24.5
		57	39.0	5218.91	6779.86	-13.8		57	25.2
		57	43.5	5223.77	6770.78	-17.0		57	26.5
		57	46.3	5253.41	6785.25	-22.2		57	24.1
		57	50.3	5262.79	6780.38	-25.9		57	24.4
		57	55.3	5288.62	6786.64	-31.8		57	23.5
	1	57	59.4	5299.50	6784.09	-35.5		57	23.9
		58	4.6	5312.73	6780.55	-40.0		57	24.6


				TABLE 3 (cont.)

		t_n		z_n	R_n	t_0-t_n		t_0
	h	m	s	km	km	s	h	m	s

		58	9.4	5325.72	6777.97	-44.3		57	25.1
		58	14.0	5340.78	6777.23	-48.9		57	25.1
		58	18.8	5358.97	6778.01	-54.0		57	24.8
		58	23.4	5376.34	6778.87	-59.0		57	24.4
		58	26.9	5387.13	6778.15	-62.4		57	24.5
		58	30.8	5400.01	6777.84	-66.4		57	24.4
		58	33.8	5408.82	6777.49	-69.2		57	24.6
		58	38.8	5414.63	6770.89	-72.4		57	26.4
		58	42.8	5430.92	6772.68	-77.0		57	25.8
13.4	17	48	47.6	5426.59	6775.45	 10.2	17	48	57.8
		48	49.3	5437.17	6775.39	  6.9		48	56.2
		48	56.8	5458.46	6776.53	  0.5		48	57.3
		50	14.1	5679.94	6774.16	-76.6		48	57.5
8.6	0	18	36.2	4643.84	6754.14	102.3	0	20	18.5
		18	48.4	4697.44	6752.85	 90.1		20	18.5
		19	1.9	4759.26	6751.10	 75.8		20	17.7
		19	17.6	4820.83	6747.15	 60.8		20	18.4
12.6	0	5	42.0	4933.49	6758.85	 36.1	0	6	18.1
		6	16.5	5069.15	6749.97	  0.4		6	16.9
		6	19.1	5069.95	6742.04	 -1.3		6	17.8
		6	20.5	5084.84	6750.54	 -3.5		6	17.0
		6	24.6	5100.91	6750.15	 -7.8		6	16.8
		6	31.2	5125.03	6748.76	-14.4		6	16.8
		6	33.1	5133.45	6749.98	-16.3		6	16.8
		6	34.6	5125.46	6739.29	-16.3		6	18.3
		6	37.6	5134.63	6737.21	-19.2		6	18.4
		6	42.6	5143.52	6729.61	-23.0		6	19.6
		6	44.7	5175.52	6747.64	-28.1		6	16.6
		7	13.4	5216.78	6743.11	-57.1		6	16.3
		7	19.2	5287.78	6736.80	-61.5		6	17.7
7.7	0	37	59.6	4860.98	6601.83	-56.2	0	37	3.4
		38	0.2	4854.41	6601.74	-55.3		37	4.9
		38	3.8	4864.64	6635.36	-59.4		37	4.4
		38	3.9	4866.70	6640.38	-59.9		37	4.0
		38	7.3	4852.35	6639.35	-63.1		37	4.2
		38	10.3	4843.32	6644.37	-66.2		37	4.1
		38	12.3	4831.54	6639.01	-68.0		37	4.3
		38	16.6	4814.69	6640.10	-72.2		37	4.4
		38	18.4	4809.48	6643.77	-74.1		37	4.3
		38	20.4	4800.52	6642.09	-75.9		37	4.5
		38	22.9	4791.36	6645.93	-78.8		37	4.1
		38	24.2	4785.95	6645.32	-80.0		37	4.2
		38	26.5	4777.49	6648.37	-82.6		37	3.9
		38	28.6	4768.32	6649.01	-84.8		37	3.8
		38	33.5	4744.89	6642.83	-89.0		37	4.5
		38	34.9	4738.86	6644.81	-90.8		37	4.1
		38	42.1	4706.07	6639.95	-97.3		37	4.8
		38	44.2	4697.43	6640.31	-99.3		37	4.9
		38	47.1	4684.79	6639.51	-102.1		37	5.0
		38	47.8	4680.92	6638.97	-102.9		37	4.9
		38	50.5	4668.94	6637.18	-105.2		37	5.3
		38	56.6	4641.99	6638.00	-111.4		37	5.2
		38	59.1	4632.78	6636.94	-113.3		37	5.8
		39	1.3	4621.96	6637.93	-115.8		37	5.5


				TABLE 3 (cont.)

		t_n		z_n	R_n	t_0-t_n		t_0
	h	m	s	km	km	s	h	m	s

		39	6.9	4599.51	6636.37	-120.5		37	6.4
8.7	23 	42 	45.9	5128.98	6652.95	   4.4	23	42	50.3
		42	58.8	5067.39	6643.29	 -10.0		42 	48.8
		42	58.9	5073.59	6647.58	  -9.3		42 	49.6
		42	59.6	5072.33	6649.09	  -9.9		42 	49.7
		43	1.3	5055.44	6641.69	 -12.8		42 	48.5
		43	1.6	5063.18	6648.40	 -12.1		42 	49.5
		43	2.8	5068.83	6656.49	 -12.3		42 	50.5
		43	3.3	5056.21	6648.41	 -14.0		42 	49.3
		43	3.8	5043.74	6640.33	 -15.6		42 	48.2
		43	4.5	5054.12	6650.77	 -15.0		42 	49.5
		43	7.3	5019.17	6632.89	 -20.4		42 	46.9
		43	12.0	5000.94	6631.83	 -24.9		42 	47.1
		43	13.3	5004.66	6638.05	 -25.2		42 	48.1
		43	16.8	5003.09	6647.08	 -27.4		42 	49.4
		43 	19.0	4998.61	6650.34	 -29.2		42 	49.8
9.7	22	29	17.5	5277.51	6654.29	  45.9	22	30	3.4
		29	30.8	5221.53	6643.98	  32.0		30	2.8
		29	31.1	5229.64	6650.71	  31.4		30	2.5
		29	32.8	5217.71	6643.07	  31.1		30	3.9
		29	33.7	5223.84	6650.89	  31.1		30	4.8
		29	35.5	5217.37	6650.22	  29.4		30	4.9
		29	47.8	5172.63	6649.83	  17.0		30	4.8
		29	48.8	5170.49	6649.04	  16.6		30	5.4
		30	1.5	5124.09	6649.02	   3.9		30	5.4
		30	1.8	5120.42	6647.84	   3.2		30	4.6
		30	2.9	5115.17	6648.13	   1.7		30	4.6
		30	3.5	5113.63	6647.84	   1.3		30	4.8
		30	4.2	5110.01	6649.05	   0.1		30	4.3
		30	4.3	5111.41	6651.43	   0.0		30	4.3
		30	5.6	5103.68	6648.23	  -1.4		30	4.2
		30	11.0	5081.84	6644.50	  -6.4		30	4.6
		30	12.0	5072.41	6640.64	  -8.1		30	3.9
		30	17.7	5063.50	6649.84	 -12.4		30	5.3
		30	17.9	5062.39	6648.28	 -12.3		30	5.6
10.7	22	48	3.4	5187.55	6638.88	  23.5	22	48	26.9
		48	4.3	5179.83	6634.82	  22.1		48	26.4
		48	7.4	5174.19	6636.66	  20.2		48	27.6
		48	15.6	5163.91	6653.04	  13.9		48	29.5
		48	16.3	5152.48	6647.66	  11.9		48	28.2
		48	17.3	5137.48	6641.20	   9.2		48	26.5
12.7	21	52	27.8	5427.84	6649.54	  93.5	21	54	1.3
		52	28.8	5425.39	6649.57	  92.7		54	1.5
		52	29.9	5421.51	6649.09	  91.5		54	1.4
		52	30.8	5419.21	6649.34	  90.7		54	1.5
		52	32.0	5415.74	6649.30	  89.6		54	1.6
		52	32.7	5413.68	6649.39	  88.9		54	1.6
		52	33.7	5411.67	6659.71	  85.8		53	59.5
		53	14.1	5281.86	6645.06	  49.2		54	3.3
		53	19.4	5257.84	6653.90	  40.4		53	59.8
		53	19.8	5262.27	6647.48	  42.9		54	2.7
		53	31.1	5211.77	6649.45	  27.9		53	59.0
		53	32.4	5205.10	6649.63	  26.1		53	58.5
		53	33.6	5208.04	6648.43	  27.2		54	0.8
18.9	2	5	0.6	4954.33	6644.91	-933.9	1	49	26.7


				TABLE 3 (cont.)
					
		t_n		z_n	R_n	t_0-t_n		t_0
	h	m	s	km	km	s	h	m	s
	
		 5	 2.3	4948.46	6643.43	-934.6		49	27.7	
		
		 5	29.7	4829.03	6636.74	-960.6		49	29.1
		 5	32.2	4813.30	6626.59	-959.6		49 	32.6
		 5	34.1	4812.87	6640.79	-966.3		49 	27.8
		 5	45.2	4760.84	6630.23	-973.6		49	31.6
		 6	 5.7	4675.89	6636.61	-996.0		49	29.7
		 6	11.2	4657.66	6636.95	-1000.2		49 	31.0
20.9	17	30	 6.1	4926.57	6674.28	 112.0	17	31	58.1
		30	 7.8	4930.97	6671.76	 110.4		31	58.2
		30	 9.7	4938.37	6671.38	 108.4		31	58.1
		30	19.8	4982.93	6673.96	  97.8		31	57.6
		30	26.5	4989.78	6658.22	  92.7		31	59.2
		30	30.7	5031.35	6678.74	  86.6		31	57.3
		30	49.3	5095.04	6671.35	  68.4		31	57.7
		30	50.3	5096.26	6669.22	  67.6		31	57.9
22.9	16	34	 2.6	5477.57	6656.56	 -48.7	16	33	13.9
		34	 3.8	5479.62	6655.14	 -49.9		33	13.9
		34	 4.8	5482.16	6654.74	 -50.8		33	14.0
		34	 5.8	5485.12	6654.91	 -51.8		33	14.0
		34	 6.9	5487.38	6653.99	 -52.5		33	14.4
		34	 7.9	5491.00	6654.71	 -53.8		33	14.1
		34	35.6	5568.86	6655.83	 -81.3		33	14.3
		34	36.8	5573.55	6657.15	 -82.6		33	14.2
		34	38.0	5578.89	6658.95	 -84.1		33	13.9
	18	 3	29.6	5178.92	6668.67	  45.1	18	 4	14.7
		 4	 2.9	5297.01	6667.70	  11.1		 4 	14.0
		 4	30.5	5391.38	6668.67	 -17.5		 4	13.0
		 4	48.8	5442.07	6664.26	 -34.9		 4	13.9	
		 4	52.0	5447.39	6664.68	 -36.5		 4	15.5
		 4	59.5	5471.38	6662.69	 -45.0		 4	14.5
		 5	 4.6	5493.56	6666.04	 -51.7		 4	12.9	
		 5	30.4	5542.81	6649.05	 -73.7		 4	16.7
23.9	18	21	34.1	5521.20	6642.81	 -67.6	18	20	26.5
		22	 3.2	5574.84	6631.69	 -90.5		20	32.7
		22	29.5	5618.38	6620.82	-110.8		20	38.7
		22	31.3	5700.50	6661.52	-132.1		20	19.2
		22	32.5	5700.74	6660.27	-132.6		20	19.9
		23	 1.0	5823.06	6695.36	-177.3		20	 3.7
24.9	18	38	 2.4	5608.90	6655.49	 -96.5	18	36	25.9
		38	34.2	5677.66	6649.56	-126.2		36 	28.0
25.9	17	23	 1.7	5609.73	6656.91	 -96.4	17	21	25.3
		23	 3.1	5612.12	6655.79	 -97.7		21	25.4
		23	17.9	5644.91	6650.97	-112.2		21	25.7
		23	18.6	5644.74	6648.72	-112.8		21	25.8
		23	19.0	5644.56	6647.10	-113.2		21	25.8
26.9	17	39	 0.2	5618.85	6667.50	 -96.8	17	37	23.4
		40	 2.3	5742.56	6651.61	-154.4		37	27.9
		40	 2.7	5742.10	6651.25	-154.3		37	28.4
		40	 3.1	5743.18	6651.82	-154.6		37	28.5
		40	 3.6	5746.71	6653.99	-155.5		37	28.1
27.9	16	25	 3.7	5764.70	6657.87	-162.6	16	22	21.1
		25	 4.7	5765.68	6656.70	-163.5		22 	21.2
		25	 5.7	5766.35	6655.23	-164.4		22	21.3
		25	 6.5	5767.83	6654.72	-165.3		22	21.2	
		25	32.9	5805.78	6647.18	-187.6		22	25.3
					

				TABLE 3 (cont.)

		tn		z_n	R_	t_0-t_n		tv
	h	m	s	km	km	s	h	m	s

		25	33.2	5796.57	6640.98	-185.2		22	28.0
		25	33.9	5796.86	6640.72	-185.5		22	28.4
		25	35.0	5800.53	6642.86	-186.5		22	28.5
		25	35.8	5798.89	6641.80	-186.1		22	29.7
		25	36.9	5805.03	6645.17	-188.0		22	28.9
		26	4.2	5858.08	6647.43	-217.2		22	27.0
		26	5.1	5859.95	6648.00	-218.1		22	27.0
		26	6.0	5860.88	6647.78	-218.8		22	27.2
		26	6.9	5861.11	6646.86	-219.4		22	27.5


	Different kinds of Delta values deduced from 31 passes by graphic or numerical 
solution are given in Table 4. In the first column "O" means simply the mean of the t_0 
values of Table 3, averaged for each revolution separately. In the second column the 
root-mean-square error of  (expressed in seconds) is given for all transits 
which include a large enough number of observations. Its average value is 0.656.

	Note: The epoch O = 496.259943 comes from two O values combined from two 
consecutive transits, each containing one pair of simultaneous observations only.

	The next table gives the period at the beginning and at the end of each 
observation cycle, its mean value, the mean rate of decrease of the period during each 
time interval, and its standard error. (As dP/dn changed suddenly on 26 August 1963, 
the first cycle has been divided into two parts.) Then follows, as a comparison, |dP/dN|^*, 
defined as the slope of a plot of  against t at the cycles of observation. 
Finally theoretical values of  are given  calculated
from the following equations

				

[11] where T_0 = 94.27 min., e_0 = 0.030 are initial orbital elements of the satellite,
						
						
						
						TABLE 4

    O		sigma	Weight	(O-C)_n	        n(n-1)	Delta_n (O-C)_m	        m(m-1)	 Delta_m  
JD 2438...	sec		 day			sec/rev	   day		sec/rev  sec/rev day	
								
263.357229	+-  -	1	   -		0	   -	-.000292	4556	-.0111	-.0111
264.378929	.467	10	-.000012	240	-.0086	-.000161	2652	-.0105	-.0103
265.336725	.389	8	-.000071	930	-.0132	-.000086	1332	-.0112	-.0120
266.294488	  -	0.5	-.000162	2070	-.0135	-.000044	462	-.0165	-.0140
266.358366	.309	5	-.000141	2162	-.0113	-.000014	420	-.0058	-.0104
267.316111	  -	1	-.000251	3782	-.0115	+.000009	30	+.0518	-.0115
268.337696	.683	7	-.000004	110	-.0063	-.000177	3782	-.0081	-.0080
269.295416	1.320	5	-.000024	650	-.0064	-.000092	2256	-.0070	-.0069
269.359276	  -	4	-.000014	702	-.0035	-.000075	2162	-.0060	-.0054
271.274631	.333	8	-.000159	3192	-.0086	-.000010	272	-.0063	-.0084
271.338481	  -	3	-.000159	3306	-.0083	-.000003	240	-.0021	-.0079
272.296129	  -		-.000261	5256	-.0086	   -		0	   -	-.0086
496.259943	  -	1	   -		0	   -	-.000168	2162	-.0134	-.0134
497.274926	.237	8	-.000019	240	-.0137	-.000069	930	-.0128	-.0130
498.289868	.186	8	-.000079	992	-.0138	-.000012	210	-.0099	-.0131
499.241334	  -	3	-.000178	2162	-.0142	   -		0	   -	-.0142
583.525747	.136	10	   -		0	   -	-.000275	8556	-.0056	-.0056
585.488068	.276	8	-.000027	930	-.0050	-.000117	3782	-.0053	-.0053
586.437551	.194	9	-.000067	2070	-.0056	-.000068	2162	-.0054	-.0055
587.450319	.486	4	-.000123	3782	-.0056	-.000029	930	-.0054	-.0056
589.412511	.389	8	-.000279	8556	-.0056	   -		0	   -	-.0056
656.576036	.582	3	   -		0	   -	-.000781	22952	-.0059	-.0059
659.230532	.200	8	-.000068	1722	-.0068	-.000416	11990	-.0060	-.0061
661.189746	.197	9	-.000175	5256	-.0058	-.000203	6162	-.0057	-.0057
661.252945	.448	5	-.000180	5402	-.0058	-.000198	6006	-.0057	-.0057
662.264160	4.994	0.5	-.000227	8010	-.0049	-.000080	3782	-.0037	-.0045
663.275312	  -	1	-.000338	11130	-.0053	-.000026	2070	-.0022	-.0048
664.223213	.105	5	-.000496	14520	-.0059	-.000029	930	-.0054	-.0059
665.234344	.971	4	-.000627	18632	-.0058	-.000005	210	-.0041	-.0058
666.182243	.865	3	-.000787	22952	-.0059	   -		0	   -	-.0059
								
					
					TABLE 5


Date	      P_0 day	P_z	  	   dP/dn	sigma   (dP/dn)*  (dP/dn)_t_1   (dP/dn)_t_2
	      day	day 	  day		sec	  	   sec	     sec	  sec

Aug 1963 I.   .0638570	.0638443  .0638506	-.0110 	 +-.0006   -.0101    -.0072	  -.0084
Aug 1963 II.  .0638570	.0638443  .0638506	-.00755	   .00049  -.0101    -.0072	  -.0084
Apr 1964      .0634376	.0634303  .0634340	-.0132	   .0003   -.0092    -.0089	  -.0103
Jun 1964          -	    -	  .0633376	   -	     -	     -	       -	    -
Jul 1964      .0633015	.0632956  .0632986	-.00550	   .00006  -.0075    -.0098	  -.0113
Sep 1964      .0632039	.0631936  .0631987	-.00582	   .00020  -.0068    -.0109	  -.0126
								
									
				        TABLE 6	

				
Date		i	e	kappa	  phi_0    mu_0    U_s	   a		h_ap	h_per
						   min	   km	   km		km
	
Aug 1963	64.94	.0173	1723.73	  60.750   74.394  92.001  6750.80	490	256
Apr 1964	64.98	.0152	1721.87	  49.662   57.264  91.401  6721.45	445	241
June 1964	64.98	.011	1721.34	    -	    -	   91.264  6714.70	411	263
July 1964	64.98	.011	1721.32	  50.217   58.000  91.208  6711.96	408	260
Sept 1964	64.97	.0104	1720.85	  53.131   61.996  91.064  6704.89	397	256


and t_L its total lifetime. Orbital elements in the predictions for March 1965, 
using the inverse form of the equations quoted above, yielded lifetimes 1874 days and 1896 
days respectively. (The actual lifetime of the satellite proved to be somewhat longer.)

	Figures No 2-8 have been plotted to illustrate the graphic solution of the problem.
On Fig. No 2, 4, 5 and 7 deviations between observed and

		
			
					Fig. 2.

calculated transit times (O - C)_n are plotted against n(n - 1); the slope of each straight 
line gives  Delta_n. C_n values have been derived using the initial period of revolution 
P_0 and the starting date O_0. Fig. 2 proves clearly the reality of the sudden change 
which occurred on or about the 26 August. Dashed lines indicate (dP/dn)_t_1 and 
(dP/dn)_t_2 respectively. (There is certainly a wide gap between the observed and the 
theoratical values.) Weights of singular points are marked on each of the 
figures by [big filled circle] [small filled circle] [big circle] [small circle]
(in decreasing order). Parameters of major importance for the computations are summarized 
in the first columns of Table 6 (i, e kappa and phi_0 mu_0, latters representing the 
reference latitude). Approximate orbital elements have been found in [12] and have been 
corrected according to the method mentioned above.

		

					Fig. 3.

		

					Fig. 4.
					
		

					Fig. 5.

		

					Fig. 6.

		

					Fig. 7.

		

					Fig. 8.



The last four columns give U_S (derived from ), a, and the values of h_ap and 
h_per - being simple functions of a and e. The sidereal period of revolution can be 
computed from

				


[6], where


				

is the daily precession of the orbital plane,

				

is the average angular velocity easily measurable on the observed path elements. The 
sidereal period proved to be longer than the nodal one by 3-4 sec.

	Consequently satellite accelerations as derived refer practically to a perigee 
altitude of 255 km.


					CONCLUSIONS


	The Interobs program sets as an aim the investigation of sudden changes in the 
upper atmosphere as revealed by satellite drag. Studying the observational data on 
1960 epsilon3 (1960 05/3) we demonstrated the possibility of regarding dP/dn as constant 
for time intervals of 8-10 days (at least during and about the minimum of solar activity) 
and to derive its mean value with no more than 20% external relative error. Consequently 
the density of the atmosphere near the perigee altitude of the satellite proved to be 
constant during most of the time intervals under consideration. Nevertheless we did not 
intend to determine it numerically for the following reasons: we did not succeed to derive 
the argument of perigee (the observations covering only a small fraction of the whole orbit)
and also the effective cross-sectional area of the satellite is unknown. As the possibility 
of a slow precessional motion of the axis of rotation of the satellite (with a period of 
rotation of the order of weeks !) cannot be precluded [13], absolute measurements of air 
density are hampered by the corresponding variations of the cross-sectional area of the 
satellite at least if only one satellite is under observation.

	Sudden variations, like the one shown on Fig. 2 and 3, however, cannot be regarded 
as anything else but as the consequences of sudden changes in the density of the upper 
atmosphere. Hence according to the changes of drag acting on 1960 epsilon3, air density 
near its perigee altitude decreased by 31% on the 26^th August 1963. The change exceeds 
six times the standard error of dP/dn for the preceding time interval.

	It is natural to try to find a connection between this density decrease and 
variations in the actual solar activity, because a strong correlation between certain 
solar phenomena and the upper atmosphere is well known [14]. Exactly on the day mentioned 
a larger sunspot group turned away to the farside of the Sun, and, as a result, the Wolf 
(sunspot) number (R) dropped to about one half of its previous level. At the same time 
according to Catanian measurements the spot area (A) decreased to less than one third [15]. 
The coincidence of the solar and upper atmospheric events is interesting (see Fig. 3). 
Significant flares or distinctive events have not been observed during the time interval 
under consideration.

	In 1964 solar activity had reached its absolute minimum, the average sunspot number 
being only 4 in April and July, 5 in September [15]. There were no visible spots on the Sun 
during 7-12 July and 16-28 Sept; average sunspot numbers being as low as 7-8-9 in April. 
It is by no means surprizing that the acceleration dP/dn proved to be constant during these 
time intervals, and its absolute value in April 1964 was considerably larger than in July 
or in September. The correlation "more intensive solar activity - more intensive drag" 
approximately holds true, suggesting that with decrease in solar activity the upper atmosphere 
becomes cooler and shrinks closer to the earth so that at a given geometric altitude the 
density becomes less.

	The comparison of dP/dn values obtained for different time intervals demands, 
however, a lot of precaution because of the shift of the perigee and changes of the 
effective cross-sectional area as mentioned above. The general tendency - i.e. that a
cceleration contrary to all expectations is a decreasing function of time - has been 
proved by the convex shape (as seen from below) of the  plot independently. 
From the graphically derived slopes of the curve at different points we find 
|dP/dn|^* decreasing as well (seeTable 5); even the arithmetical means of 
the (dp/dn)^* and dP/dn values derived during the four time intervals under consideration 
are practically equal (-0.00839 and -0.00861 s/rev respectively). Accordingly our results 
suggest that during 1963/64 air density around the altitude 250-260 km decreased - parallel 
with solar activity - to such an extent that the drag encountered by satellite 1960 epsilon3
did not show a rising but a falling tendency considerably prolonging the lifetime of the 
satellite. It would be an interesting task to determine whether similar effects occurred in 
the motion of other satellites at the same time; unfortunately the Interobs material 
available did not allow such an investigation.

	Studying all observations of 1960 epsilon3 in 1963/64 it could be ascertained 
that in time intervals when at least 3 transits have been well observed (simultaneously 
from two stations), the rate of change of the period of revolution, if constant, can be 
determined with an error not exceeding 10-15%. Supposing that sudden variations occur in 
air density which has an effect on dP/dn larger than this value, the date of change can be 
computed with an accuracy of possibly less than one day (in a fortunate case) or at least 
1-2 days. Such time resolution is of interest when investigating the time delay of the 
influence of certain solar phenomena upon the upper atmosphere. It seems useful to extend 
the Interobs program in order to obtain material rich enough to set up actual correlations.


	Konkoly Observatory, Budapest, September 1965.
					
					
					
					
					APPENDIX




		PROGRAM FOR ELLIOTT 803 COMPUTER TO CALCULATE THE
		 SATELLITE'S POSITION IN SPACE FROM SIMULTANEOUS 
				OBSERVATIONS



	This program forms only the first part of a larger one to evaluate orbital elements 
directly from simultaneous observations (see [9]). The output of some data in excess is 
needed for the second part.


					Input data

No. 1. number of tracking stations (less than 40);
No. 2. coordinates of tracking stations in a rectangular and in a geographic system:

		

No. 3. number of days when observations have been performed (less than 200);
No. 4. hours, minutes and seconds of Greenwich sidereal time at 0^h GMT of days when 
       observations have been performed;
No. 5. A_1 and A_2 (Parameters in

	

       where m is the year of observation,
             n is the epoch of the catalogue or atlas);
No. 6. year, month, day and hour (integer numbers) of the first transit;
No. 7. identification number of the satellite (integer of maximum 5 figures);
No. 8. observing data: weight, time (h, m, s), identification number of the coordinate 
       system (1 means equatorial, 2 means horizontal), right ascension or azimuth (h, m, s 
       or °, ', ") declination or elevation (°,') serial number of the tracking station 
       according to No. 2, and serial number of the day according to No. 4. N.B. Maximum 
       number of simultaneity groups (points in space) on each transit is 100. More than 
       one observation from the same tracking station cannot be used in one simultaneity 
       group.
       Arriving to the next transit write all input data (No. 8) of the first observation, 
       then 38( 40( and the time of the new transit as in No. 6. In the case of a new 
       satellite add 39( and the identification number of the satellite as in No. 7. After 
       the very last observation add 12 zeros and 38( 34( ).


					Output

	Every transit is printed out as a separate group. The first line gives: 1. the 
identification number of the satellite, 2. year, month, day and hour of the transit. 
Line No. 2: time (in degrees) and Theta (in degrees, see [9])of the first real observation; 
Line No. 3:  for the given transit. Spatial coordinates 
are tabulated below as follows:

		

where n_i is the number of all possible pairs in the simultaneity group when determining 
the satellite's position in space. The sign 5( at the end of every transit belongs to 
Part II. of the program.

	After the last transit all observations neglected during the calculation are 
printed out using the following code:
Starting from horizontal coordinates

		

starting from equatorial coordinates

		

Numbers after these six-figure symbols give the serial number of the observation under 
consideration.

	Further, whilst determining a position in space, those pairs of observations are 
not used where

		

these are indicated by the symbol 666666 and k and l are printed out afterwards.


SETS LIHJUVKQWCD(2002)E(4)		VARY I=1:1:9
SETV P(240)A(205)B(23)S(160)G(10)	READ B(I)
	N(11)Z(400)			REPEAT I
SETF TRIG ARCTAN SQRT			READ Q
SETR 40					READ W
					JUMP IF J=1TO20
1) READ	L				JUMP UNLESS B3=B13TO3
VARY I=I : 1 : L			JUMP UNLESS B2=B12TO3
VARY H=0 : 40: 6			JUMP UNLESS B1=B11TO3
READ P(I+H)				JUMP TO5
REPEAT H				20) B11=B1
REPEAT I				B12=B2
READ L					B13=B3
VARY I=1 :1:L				B3=.01666666 * B3
READ A(I)				B2=B2+B3
READ A(I+1)				B2=.01666666 * B2
READ A(I+2)				B1=B1+B2
A(1+2)=.01666666 * A(I+2)		B20=15*B1
A(I+1)=A(I+2)+A(I+1)			B1=1.00273791 * B20
A(I+1)=.01666666 * A(I+1)		B14=B1+A(W)
A(I)=A(I)+A(I+1)			23) JUMP UNLESS B14> 360TO4
A(I)=15 * A(I)				B14=B14-360
REPEAT I				JUMP TO23
READ G9					4) B1=B14/180
READ G10				B15=SIN B1
N1=0					B16=COS B1
N4=0					5) B1=P(Q) * B16
N8=0					B2=P(Q+40) * B15
VARY I=I :1:4				S(J+4)=B1-B2
READ EI					B1=P(Q) * B15
REPEAT I				B2=P(Q+40) * B16
2) READ V				S(J+5)=B1+B2
C=1001					S(J+6)=P(Q+80)
H=0					JUMP IF B4=1TO16
21) D2001=0				JUMP IF B8>60TO10
J=1					JUMP IF B8> 30TO9
U=0					JUMP IF B8>20TO8
22) READ S(J)				JUMP IF B8> 15TO7


JUMP IF B8> 12TO6			12) B1=B14-B7
B9=B9-5					B1=B1-P(Q+120)
JUMP TO10				26) JUMP IF B1 <0TO14
6) B9=B9-4				13) JUMP IF B1 < 360TO15
JUMP TO10				B1=B1-360
7) B9=B9-3				JUMP TO13
JUMP TO10				14) B1=B1+360
8) B9=B9-2				JUMP TO26
JUMP TO10				15) 131=131/180
9) B9=B9-1				B2=SIN B1
10) B7=.01666666 * B7			B3=MOD B2
B6=B7+B6				JUMP UNLESS B3>.99996TO27
B6=.01666666 * B6			D(C)=333333
B5=B5+B6				C=C+1
B9=.01666666 * B9			U=U+1
B8=B9+BS				D(C)=U
B5=B5/180				C=C+1
B6=COS B5				JUMP IF C> 1997TO34
B5=SIN B5				JUMP TO22
B8=B8/180				27) B1=COS B1
B9=COS B8				S(J+1)=B2/B1
B8=SIN B8				S(J+7) =8 (J+4)*(J+1)
B1=P(Q+160) * B8			S(J+2)=1/B1
B2=P(Q+200) * B9			JUMP TO19
B2=B2*B6				16) B7=.01666666*B7
B1=B1+B2				B6=B6+B7
JUMP UNLESS B1 > .999TO24		B6=.01666666*B6
D(C)=111111				B5=B5+B6
C=C+1					B5=15*B5
U=U+1					B9=.01666666*B9
D(C)=U					B8=B8+B9
C=C+1					B7=B5/180
JUMP IF C> 1997TO34			B6=COS B7
JUMP TO22				B7=SIN B7
24) B2=B1*B1				B7=G10*B7
B2=1-B2					B6=G10*B6
B2=SQRT B2				B9=B8/180
S(J+3)=B1/B2				B9=TAN B9
B3=-B9*B5				B7=B7*B9
B2=B3/B2				B7=B7+G9
B3=MOD B2				B5=B5+B7
JUMP UNLESS B3>.99996TO25		B8=B8+B6
D(C)=222222				JUMP IF BS < 90TO17
C=C+1					B8=180-B8
U=U+1					B5= B5+ 180
D(C)=U					17) JUMP UNLESS B8>87.5TO28
C=C+1					D(C)=444444
JUMP IF C> 1997TO34			C=C+1
JUMP TO22				U=U+1
25) B3=P(Q+160) * B1			D(C)=U
B3=B8-B3				C=C+1
B7=B2*B2				JUMP IF C> 1997TO34
B7=1-B7					JUMP TO 22
B7=SQRT B7				28) JUMP UNLESS B5<0TO29
B7=B2/B7				B5=360+B5
B7=ARCTAN B7				JUMP TO28
B7=180 * B7				29) JUMP IF B5 < 360TO18
JUMP IF B2 > 0TO11			B5=B5-360
JUMP IF B3> 0TO 12			JUMP TO29
B7=-180-B7				18) 138=138/180
JUMP TO12				S(J+3)=TAN B8
11) JUMP IF B3 > 0TO 12			B5=B5/180
B7=180-B7				B2=SIN B5


B8=MOD B2				G2=G2+S(K+6)
JUMP UNLESS B8>.99996TO30		G4=8(K)*G2
D(C)=555555				N3=N3+G4
C=C+1					G1=G1-S(L+4)
U=U+1					G1=G1*S(L+3)
D(C)=U					G1=G1*S(L+2)
C=C+1					G1=S(L+6)+G1
JUMP IF C> 1997TO34			G1=G1*S(L)
JUMP TO 22				N3=N3+G1
30) 135=COS B5				I=I+1
S(J+1)=B2/B5				35) L=L+8
S(J+7)=S(J+4)*S(J+1)			JUMP IF L <JTO31
S(J+2)=1/B5				33) K=K+8
19) U=U+1				L=K+8
D2001=D2001+ 1				JUMP IF L < JTO31
JUMP UNLESS D2001=1TO37			D(H)=I
B22=1320				Z(4H+1)=N7/N5
B23=1314				Z(4H+2)=N2/N5
37) J=J+8				Z(4H+3)=N3/N6
JUMP TO22				B17=Z(4H+1)*Z(4H+1)
3) I=0					N1=N1+B17
N2=0					B18=Z(4H+2)*Z(4H+2)
N3=0					N4=N4+B18
N5=0					B19=Z(4H+3)*Z(4H+3)
N6=0					N8=N8+B19
N7=0					B17=B17+B18
K=1					B17=B17+B19
L=K+8					Z(4H+4)=SQRT B17
31) G7=8(K)*S(L)			H=H+1
N5=N5+G7				S1=S J
G8=S(K)+S(L)				J=1
N6=N6+G8				JUMP TO20
G1=S(L+5)-S(K+5)			38) LINE
G1=G1-S(L+7)				PRINT V,5
G1=G1+S(K+7)				SPACES 5
G2=S(K+ 1)-S(L+ 1)			PRINT E1,4
G6=MOD G2				PRINT E2,2
JUMP UNLESS G6<.1TO32			PRINT E3,2
D(C)=666666				PRINT E4,2
C=C+1					LINE
D(C)=K					PRINT B22
C=C+1					PRINT B23
D(C)=L					LINE
C=C+1					PRINT N1
JUMP UNLESS C > 1997TO35		PRINT N4
LINE					PRINT N8
D2002 =C-1001				LINE
VARY C=1001 : 1 : D2002			VARY I=0 : 1 : H
PRINT D(C)				VARY K=1 : 1 : 4
LINE					PRINT Z(4I+K)
REPEAT C				REPEAT K
C=1001					PRINT DI
JUMP TO35				LINE
32) G1=G1/G2				REPEAT T
G6=G1*G7				OUTPUT 21
N7=N7+G6				OUTPUT 17
G2=G1-S(K+4)				N1=0
G3=G2*S(K+1)				N4=0
G3=S(K+5)+G3				N8=0
G5=G3*G7				D2001=0
N2=N2+G5				H=0
G2=G2*S(K+3)				JUMP TO22
G2=G2*S(K+2)				34) C=C-1

	
LINES 3					JUMP TO22	
CYCLE K=1001 : 1: C			40) VARY I=1 : 1: 4
PRINT DK,6				READ EI	
LINE					REPEAT I	
REPEAT K				JUMP TO22	
C=1001					36) STOP	
JUMP TO22				START 1	
39) READ V		




					REFERENCES



 [1] D. G. King-Hele and D. M. C. Walker: Space Research 2, p. 918, 1961. 
     D. G. King-Hele: JBIS 19, p. 374, 1964.
     R. H. Merson and A. T. Sinclair: RAE Technical Rep. No 64036, 1964.
     M. Ill: Nabljudenija ISZ 3, 1964.
     M. J. Marov: Kosmiceskie issledovania Vip 6 1964.
 [2] e.g. H. F. Michielson: PhS and E 6 No 6 1962. 
 [3] Z. Ceplecha: BAC 10 41 1958.
     C. Popovici: Nabljudenija ISZ 1 33 1962. 
 [4] D. E. Segolev Nabljudenija ISZ 1 40 1962.
 [5] G. Veis: SAO Sp. Rep. No 133 1962.
 [6] M. Ill: Baja Mitt. No. 1 1962.
 [7] Ergebnisse der im Rahmen des Interobs-Programms abgehaltenen Kooperationswochen 
     1, 2, 1964, 1965.
 [8] J. Bienewski: Biuletyn polskich ... 8 58 1963.
     W. Baran: Artificial Earth Satellites. Observations and Investigations in Poland 
     105 1965.
     I. Almár and M. Ill: Nabljudenija ISZ 1 46 1962.
 [9] E. Illés and I. Almár: Nabljudenij ISZ 3 1964.
[10] G. A. Ustinov: Nabljudenija ISZ 2 19 1963
[11] e.g. D. G. King-Hele: Progress in the Astronautical Sciences 1 1962. (The same 
     equation used with two different coefficients.)
[12] G. A. Cebotarev - E. N. Makarova: Bjulleteni stancii ... No 40 34 1964.
[13] L. G. Jacchia: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 1962 Dez 31. 
[14] e.g. H. K. Paetzold and H. Zschörner: Space Research 1 p. 28 1960.
     N. L. Slovohotova: Nabljudenia Isz 2 3 1963.
[15] Quarterly Bulletin on Solar Activity, Eidgen Sternwarte Zürich
     Solnecnije dannie




					ERRATA

	In Mitteilunlgen der Sternwarte der Ungarischen Akademie der 
Wissenschaften Nr. 59 
p. 9 last two equations read