Effect of rarefied drag on life time estimation of satellites
Abstract
The effects of drag coefficient on the estimation of satellite lifetime are investigated. The drag coefficient and drag areas are estimated using the free molecular flow theory, taking into account the actual shape of the satellite, and the uncertainty of the assumption of drag coefficient is eliminated. The present method is compared to the King-Hele (1978) method, and it is seen that for spherical shaped satellites, the King-Hele method agrees well with observations, while for satellites without symmetry the present method gives better results.
- Publication:
-
Aeronautical Society India Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 1980
- Bibcode:
- 1980AeSIJ..32...51B
- Keywords:
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- Aerodynamic Drag;
- Satellite Drag;
- Satellite Lifetime;
- Aerodynamic Coefficients;
- Free Molecular Flow;
- Satellite Configurations;
- Satellite Orbits;
- Astrodynamics