Some simple formulas for latitude effects and lifetimes of satellites

An analysis is made of the effect which manifests itself in the orbital period of a satellite because of the latitudinal shifting of the perigee. The American satellites Discoverer V and Discoverer VI (both in 1959) offered good opportunities for such an analysis, especially after elimination of the normal aperiodic decrease of the orbital period. Hereby, the latitude effect has turned out to mean deflections in the decrease of the orbital period about 20 per cent from the average. Some consequences as to air pressure and lifetimes of satellites are implied.