Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur - CERGA - Av. Copernic F-06130 Grasse
The importance of the determination of mean orbital elements of a celestial body has been recognized long term ago in Celestial Mechanics. Long time period investigations of the motions of solar system objects have been based on this concept, the calculation of mean elements being one of the important parts of the dynamical analysis. In Space Geodesy, such research have been started with the beginning of space era. In view of analysing the orbital dynamics of SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging) tracked satellites, we have studied the concept of mean orbital motion in a more comprehensive way than has been done so far.
The purpose of this paper is to review techniques and observational materials we have used to progress in the understanding of satellite dynamics. In particular, we show current interests of a precise analysing of the secular and long period behavior of geodetic satellites over time periods of several years.