Satellite dynamics and its applications

This article makes the synthesis of recent progress that have been achieved in space dynamics both at the national and international levels. The perfo rmances of the orbit determination have been substantially improved in rece nt years thanks to new space missions and to progress made in the tracking measurement techniques. The resulting benefits are a significant improvemen t of the Earth's gravity field model including temporal variations, the ach ievement of a terrestrial reference frame the quality of which is quasi cen timetric, and a global and accurate determination of the sea level variatio ns. (C) 2000 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Else vier SAS.