Fitted drag coefficients as a source of density information

Craig A. McLaughlin, Travis F. Lechtenberg, Stephen R. Mance, Travis Locke, Piyush M. Mehta

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Drag modeling is the greatest uncertainty in the dynamics of low Earth satellite orbits where ballistic coefficient and density errors dominate drag errors. This paper examines fitted drag coefficients found as part of a precision orbit determination process for Stella and Starlette from 2000 to 2004, GEOSAT Follow- On (GFO) from 2000 to 2002 and 2005, and GFZ-1 from 1995 to 1997. The drag coefficients for the spherical Stella and Starlette satellites are assumed to be highly correlated with density model error and are converted to density model corrections.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSpaceflight Mechanics 2011 - Advances in the Astronautical Sciences
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the 21st AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting
Pages1057-1074
Number of pages18
StatePublished - 2011
Event21st AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting - New Orleans, LA, United States
Duration: Feb 13 2011Feb 17 2011

Publication series

NameAdvances in the Astronautical Sciences
Volume140
ISSN (Print)0065-3438

Other

Other21st AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans, LA
Period2/13/112/17/11

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