2001/06/04 by Louis K. Scheffer, Scheffer, Louis K. · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #FOS: Physical sciences #General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc) #Planetary Science and Exploration #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #gr-qc
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.gr-qc/0106010
3 pages, revtex4
arxiv created 2001/06/04 · openalex publication_date 2001/06/04 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Anderson, et al., find the measured trajectories of Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft deviate from the trajectories computed from known forces acting on them. This unmodelled acceleration can be accounted for by non-isotropic radiation of spacecraft heat. This explanation was first proposed by Murphy, but Anderson, et al. felt it could not explain the observed effect. This paper includes new calculations on the expected magnitude of this effect, based on the relative emissivities of the different sides of the spacecraft, as estimated from the known spacecraft construction. The calculations indicate the proposed effect can account for most, if not all, of the unmodelled acceleration.