Abstract This paper shows the precise relative motion of different orbiters located at the geostationary region thanks to high precision astrometric coordinates, which are calculated thanks to different accurate observations taken from the Venezuelan National Observatory. These orbiters are close to each-other and present different relative motions although the magnitude of the distribution forces that act over them is the same. Thus, these orbiters must posses other intrinsic physic parameters which provokes the different observed morphological dynamic. In particular, the area-to-mass ratio could be one of them, and consequently, the main goal of this paper is to determine a reliability range for the area-to-mass ratio, that justifies the relative motion of these objects. Since a complete relative motion of the orbit is not feasible, we use realistic models to simulate the real motion of these orbiters, and we associate them an invented value for the area-to-mass ratio. Then, we use an analytical reduced model to compute the evolution of the eccentricity, considering different values for the area-to-mass ratio. Consequently, we are able to recover a reliability range for this invented parameter. In this work, it is also possible to consider the real ephemerides of objects listed in the CelesTrack database, and estimate its corresponding value for the area-to-mass ratio. Thus, this paper provides an innovative way to obtain a physical property of a space object just by observational information.
Highlights Geostationary orbiters behaves in a different way under same perturbations. Different relative motion have been observed under similar conditions. Geostationary orbiters must posses different intrinsic physical properties. The Area-To-Mass ratio is estimated for different geostationary orbiters. The temporal evolution of different geostationary orbiters is determined.
Estimation of a reliability range for the area-to-mass ratio of orbiters at the geostationary ring
Acta Astronautica ; 166 ; 104-112
2019-09-28
9 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Springer Verlag | 2009
|NTRS | 1970
|Orbit evaluation technique for planetary orbiters
AIAA | 1970
|Orbit evaluation technique for planetary orbiters
AIAA | 1968
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