Summary
Neutral-and charged-particle drag explains part of the semimajor axis decay of LAGEOS of approximately 1.1 mm/d, which corresponds to an acceleration of about 3·10−10 cm/s2. We study the effect of particle drag on the node of LAGEOS in relation to the proposed measurement of the Lense-Thirring or gravitomagnetic effect, using two laser-ranged satellites, of LAGEOS type, with supplementary inclinations. The conclusion is that the nodal precession due to particle drag is negligible with respect to the Lense-Thirring gravitomagnetic drag.
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Ciufolini, I., Dobrowolny, M. & Iess, L. Effect of particle drag on the LAGEOS node and measurement of the gravitomagnetic field. Nuov Cim B 105, 573–588 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02722885
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02722885