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High-degree Gravity Models from GRAIL Primary Mission DataWe have analyzed Ka‒band range rate (KBRR) and Deep Space Network (DSN) data from the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) primary mission (1 March to 29 May 2012) to derive gravity models of the Moon to degree 420, 540, and 660 in spherical harmonics. For these models, GRGM420A, GRGM540A, and GRGM660PRIM, a Kaula constraint was applied only beyond degree 330. Variance‒component estimation (VCE) was used to adjust the a priori weights and obtain a calibrated error covariance. The global root‒mean‒square error in the gravity anomalies computed from the error covariance to 320×320 is 0.77 mGal, compared to 29.0 mGal with the pre‒GRAIL model derived with the SELENE mission data, SGM150J, only to 140×140. The global correlations with the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter‒derived topography are larger than 0.985 between l = 120 and 330. The free‒air gravity anomalies, especially over the lunar farside, display a dramatic increase in detail compared to the pre‒GRAIL models (SGM150J and LP150Q) and, through degree 320, are free of the orbit‒track‒related artifacts present in the earlier models. For GRAIL, we obtain an a posteriori fit to the S‒band DSN data of 0.13 mm/s. The a posteriori fits to the KBRR data range from 0.08 to 1.5 micrometers/s for GRGM420A and from 0.03 to 0.06 micrometers/s for GRGM660PRIM. Using the GRAIL data, we obtain solutions for the degree 2 Love numbers, k20=0.024615+/-0.0000914, k21=0.023915+/-0.0000132, and k22=0.024852+/-0.0000167, and a preliminary solution for the k30 Love number of k30=0.00734+/-0.0015, where the Love number error sigmas are those obtained with VCE.
Document ID
20140010292
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Abstract
External Source(s)
doi:10.1002/jgre.20118
Authors
Lemoine, Frank G. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Goossens, Sander J. (Maryland Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Sabaka, Terence J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Nicholas, Joseph B. (Emergent Space Technologies, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mazarico, Erwan (Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Rowlands, David D. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Loomis, Bryant D. (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Chinn, Douglas S. (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Caprette, Douglas S. (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Neumann, Gregory A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Smith, David E. (Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Zuber, Maria T. (Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
July 29, 2014
Publication Date
August 23, 2013
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Volume: 118
Issue: 8
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN10532
Meeting Information
Meeting: AGU Fall Meeting
Location: San Francisco, California
Country: United States
Start Date: December 9, 2013
End Date: December 13, 2013
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX13AJ86G
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG11HP14C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG06EO90A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Primary 1
GRAIL
High-Degree

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