A critical approach to the concept of a polar, low-altitude LARES satellite
arXiv:gr-qc/0207100 · doi:10.1088/0264-9381/19/17/103
Abstract
According to very recent developments of the LARES mission, which would be devoted to the measurement of the general relativistic Lense--Thirring effect in the gravitational field of the Earth with Satellite Laser Ranging, it seems that the LARES satellite might be finally launched in a polar, low--altitude orbit by means of a relatively low--cost rocket. The observable would be the node only. In this letter we critically analyze this scenario.
LaTex2e, 11 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity