Related papers: Satellites testing general relativity: residuals v…
Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are crucial for communications, navigation, and Earth observation. However, their operational lifetimes are strongly influenced by orbital decay due to atmospheric drag. This work presents a simplified…
We consider the possibility of the detection of a chameleon effect by an earth orbiting satellite such as LAGEOS, and possible constraints that might be placed on chameleon model parameters. Approximate constraints presented here result…
Objects orbiting in the presence of a rotating massive body experience a gravitomagnetic frame-dragging effect, known as the Lense-Thirring effect, that has been experimentally confirmed in the weak-field limit. In the strong-field limit,…
This paper discusses new fundamental physics experiment to test relativistic gravity at the accuracy better than the effects of the 2nd order in the gravitational field strength. The Laser Astrometric Test Of Relativity (LATOR) mission uses…
We focus on the possibility of measuring the gravitomagnetic effects due to the rotation of the Earth, by means of a space-based experiment that exploits satellites in geostationary orbits. Due to the rotation of the Earth, there is an…
Total precession (geodetic precession and frame dragging) depends on the velocity of each source of gravitation, which means that it depends on the choice of the coordinate system. We consider the latter as an anomaly specifically in the…
This paper discusses new fundamental physics experiment that will test relativistic gravity at the accuracy better than the effects of the second order in the gravitational field strength, $\propto G^2$. The Laser Astrometric Test Of…
The pericenter shift of a binary system represents a suitable observable to test for possible deviations from the Newtonian inverse-square law in favor of new weak interactions between macroscopic objects. We analyzed 13 years of tracking…
Spin state predictions for defunct satellites in geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) are valuable for active debris removal and servicing missions as well as material shedding studies and attitude-dependent solar radiation pressure (SRP)…
The paper concerns the use of satellites of the Galileo constellation for relativistic positioning and for measurements of the gravito-magnetic effects induced by the angular momentum both of the Earth and of the dark halo of the Milky Way.…
Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR), which has been carried out for more than 35 years, is used to determine many parameters within the Earth-Moon system. This includes coordinates of terrestrial ranging stations and that of lunar retro-reflectors,…
In this paper we propose an interpretation of the time series of the RMS overlap differences of the out-of-plane part $N$ of the orbit of the Martian polar orbiter Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) over a time span Delta P of about 5 years (14…
The paper discusses the optimal conguration of one or more ring lasers to be used for measuring the general relativistic effects of the rotation of the earth, as manifested on the surface of the planet. The analysis is focused on devices…
Recent years have seen increasing efforts to directly measure some aspects of the general relativistic gravitomagnetic interaction in several astronomical scenarios in the solar system. After briefly overviewing the concept of…
Originally introduced in connection with general relativistic Coriolis forces, the term $\textit{frame-dragging}$ is associated today with a plethora of effects related to the off-diagonal element of the metric tensor. It is also frequently…
The well known general relativistic Lense-Thirring drag of the orbit of a test particle in the stationary field of a central slowly rotating body is generated, in the weak-field and slow-motion approximation of General Relativity, by a…
Gravitomagnetic field is covariantly split in the {\it intrinsic} and {\it extrinsic} parts, which are generated by rotational and translational currents of matter respectively. The {\it intrinsic} component has been recently discovered in…
It has often been claimed that the proposed Earth artificial satellite LARES/WEBER-SAT-whose primary goal is, in fact, the measurement of the general relativistic Lense-Thirring effect at a some percent level-would allow to greatly improve,…
Surveys for gravitational lens systems have typically found a significantly larger fraction of lenses with four (or more) images than are predicted by standard ellipsoidal lens models (50% versus 25-30%). We show that including the effects…
Gravity gradiometry within the framework of the general theory of relativity involves the measurement of the elements of the relativistic tidal matrix, which is theoretically obtained via the projection of the spacetime curvature tensor…