The primary objectives of this study were to obtain the necessary data and develop a calculation procedure that would facilitate predicting the atmospheric-helium contribution to the drag of a satellite having a predominantly convex exterior. Molecular-beam techniques were used to measure, for several incidence angles, the spatial and energy distributions of 7000 m/s helium atoms scattered from a 6061-T6 aluminum plate and an anodized 1235-0 aluminum surface. From these measured distributions, tangential and normal momentum accommodation coefficients were calculated as functions of incidence angle. Using these calculated accomodation coefficients, one can predict drag coefficients for satellites having predominantly convex exteriors. For spherical satellites, drag coefficients of 2.64 and 2.62 were predicted for the subject surfaces. (Jensen)


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Satellite drag coefficients calculated from measured distributions of reflected helium atoms


    Additional title:

    Berechnung von Widerstandsbeiwerten bei Satelliten aus den Messwerten fuer die Verteilung reflektierter Heliumatome


    Contributors:
    Liu, S.M. (author) / Sharma, P.K. (author) / Knuth (author)

    Published in:

    AIAA Journal ; 17 , 12 ; 1314-1319


    Publication date :

    1979


    Size :

    6 Seiten, 6 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 15 Quellen



    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English