The sensitivity of orbit prediction to spacecraft aerodynamic forces is examined. By separating the molecular momentum flux due to impinging and reemitted molecules, it is demonstrated that lifting forces are very much more sensitive to the model adopted for gas-surface interactions than the drag force experienced by a vehicle traveling in low Earth orbit. An empirically based parametric model for gas/surface interactions is summarized and compared with thermal equilibrium and Schamberg models. The dominant effect of changing the interaction model is upon along track perturbations, at decametric level. Radial perturbations are noted at the deca and centimetric level. It is concluded that the only method available for reducing orbit determination residuals caused by aerodynamic forces is through additional experimental data of gas/surface interactions.
Aerodynamic Modelling of Spacecraft for Precise Orbit Determination
1986
8 pages
Report
No indication
English
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