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The Hipparcos Astrometry Satellite – Two Years After Launch

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2016

M.A.C. Perryman*
Affiliation:
Astrophysics Division European Space Agency, ESTEC Noordwijk 220AG, The Netherlands

Abstract

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Launched in August 1989 into a geostationary transfer orbit, the Hipparcos astrometry satellite failed to reach its intended geostationary orbit through the failure of its apogee boost motor. Present indications are that the possible operational lifetime should nevertheless extend beyond the end of 1992, with extremely high-quality scientific data being returned for some 65 per cent of the time. For an assumed 3-year operational lifetime, the original mission goals (positions, parallaxes, and annual proper motions with an accuracy of about 2 milli-arcsec) should be achievable (the pre-launch expectations of the planned 2.5-year mission would be achievable with a 3.5-year mission in the revised orbit). This paper describes the in-orbit performance of the satellite most relevant to the scientific goals.

Type
Joint Discussions
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1992

References

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