102 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1959 
the flexibility and area of accomplishment of the camera stations. 
Dr. Yoshihide Kozai has developed a theory of orbit perturbations 
including effects due to the sun and the moon. The use of this theory 
has yielded three coefficients of the earth’s gravitational potential. 
Dr. Sterne advanced a general, analytical theory of the motions of 
satellites, which makes allowance for air resistance and the earth’s 
equatorial bulge, leading to improved understanding of the shape of 
the earth. 
Dr. Whitney, in cooperation with the Army Ballistic Missile 
Agency, is working on a program to derive the orientation of satel- 
lites from observations of the strength of radio emission. His study 
of the periodic effects of atmospheric drag on a satellite orbit is of 
basic importance to the tracking program. 
Dr. Veis is preparing a star catalog in the form of punched cards. 
This catalog will have particular value in photo reduction. 
George G. Barton and Richard S. Aikens are developing a program 
of electronic image conversion whereby artificial earth satellites may 
be tracked by photoelectric methods. This program will facilitate 
visual observation of orbiting objects. 
The number of observations processed by the Computation and 
Analysis Center totals 43,752; predictions sent to optical tracking sta- 
tions number 12,825. 
A program has begun for the reduction of photographic observa- 
tions of satellites by the tracking stations. Under the supervision of 
Dr. Karoly Lassovszky, two methods are employed: (1) The astro- 
metric method allows the computation of the exact orbits of the 
satellites and the derivation of important data relating to the distri- 
bution of mass inside the earth, the form of the earth, the true value 
of distances on the surface of the earth, and the variation in density 
in the atmosphere. (2) The photometric analysis method makes it 
possible to study the tumbling of the satellites, the secular changes of 
brightness of satellites, and the deterioration of their surfaces by 
meteoritic pitting and cosmic rays. 
Two types of measuring engines have been evaluated: the Van 
Biesbroeck goniometer and the two-screw Mann engine. The system 
best suited to our needs has proved to be the Mann engine. A work 
rate study has shown that it will be necessary to operate at least five 
Mann engines for 8 hours a day, in order to reduce the most significant 
data flowing in from the camera tracking stations. <A staff of 30 to 
50 persons will be required to operate these five measuring systems. 
To date, of the 5,981 films received, 62 percent were successful. 
Examination of the successful films reveals that 86 percent are 
measurable. About 500 precisely determined positions are ready for 
publication, although the precise time data have yet to be obtained 
