Space Station Orbital Decay Analysis (SSODA)
Abstract
A propulsion system for attitude control and orbital altitude adjustment capability is a necessary part of the design for a low Earth orbiting space station. Constraints limiting acceptable operating altitudes of proposed designs place the station in a region of relatively high on-orbit atmospheric density. Interaction with the atmosphere imparts a drag force on the vehicle, slowly reducing the altitude. The Space Station Orbital Decay Analysis (SSODA) program was developed to improve established methods of estimating orbital decay rates. An understanding of decay characteristics is needed to determine propellant requirements for various vehicle configurations and operating altitude strategies. SSODA has been effectively used to determine propellant tank sizes required for nominal and contingency operations, to estimate orbital lifetimes, and to study the viability of other thrust-generating systems being considered for station growth phases. Program structure, process flow diagrams, governing equations, and sample case studies are presented.
- Publication:
-
Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
- Pub Date:
- June 1993
- Bibcode:
- 1993jpmc.confS....W
- Keywords:
-
- Altitude Control;
- Atmospheric Density;
- Attitude Control;
- Earth Orbital Environments;
- Orbit Decay;
- Space Stations;
- Aerodynamic Drag;
- Space Rendezvous;
- Spacecraft Configurations;
- Astrodynamics