Kaula W.M. Theory of Satellite Geodesy: Applications of Satellites to Geodesy

Blaisdell Publishing Company, 1966. — 143 p.The first purpose of this text is to demonstrate the application and development of familiar physics—Newtonian gravitation—and familiar mathematics— Euclidean geometry—in a particular environment: the earth. The second is to collect and explain some orate mathematical techniques developed in recent years in order to utilize artificial satellites for geodesy. To make (his book as useful as possible for the first purpose, it is assumed that the reader has completed only the pertinent parts of a first-year course in physics and a first-year course in calculus. Thus, although it is assumed that the reader is familiar with the fundamentals of potential fields and 'analytic geometry, full explanations are given of certain mathematical techniques, such as spherical harmonics and matrices, that are necessary to apply these fundamentals in the context with which the book deals. The second purpose may interfere with the first in that it introduces more complications than are necessary for an understanding of the physical principles involved. However, the fact that such complications occur in applying simple physics and the fact that certain mathematical techniques are valuable because they cope most effectively with complications are perhaps the most important lessons for the student.