The effect of atmospheric winds on satellite orbits of high eccentricity

A theory was developed for the effect of zonal and meridional winds on both inclination (i) and the right ascension of the ascending node (omega) for high-eccentricity (greater than 0.2) orbits in an oblate atmosphere. The orbits of earth satellites with perigee heights less than 600 km are liable to be appreciably perturbed by the aerodynamic forces resulting from winds in the upper atmosphere, and analysis of the changes in the orbits provides a method of determining zonal (west-to-east) and meridional (north-to-south) winds. Results are expressed in terms of the change in orbital period, which is accurately known for actual satellites, so that the equations are independent of variations in air density and satellite cross-sectional area; they are also unaffected by lunisolar perturbations unless they are large during one revolution of the satellite. It is shown that the changes delta i and delta omega depend strongly on the value of e, i, and omega.