Effects of plasma drag on low Earth orbiting satellites due to solar forcing induced perturbations and heating. Issue 1 (1st July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nwankwo, Victor U.J.; Chakrabarti, Sandip K.; Weigel, Robert S.
• Is Part Of: Advances in space research. Volume 56:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 47
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2015-07-01
• Subjects: Ballistic coefficient -- LEO satellite trajectory -- Plasma drag -- Solar cycle variations -- Solar energetic events; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2015.03.044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0273-1177

Abstract

Abstract: The upper atmosphere changes significantly in temperature, density and composition as a result of solar cycle variations, which causes severe storms and flares, and increases in the amount of absorbed solar radiation from solar energetic events. Satellite orbits are consequently affected by this process, especially those in low Earth orbit (LEO). In this paper, we present a model of atmospheric drag effects on the trajectory of two hypothetical LEO satellites of different ballistic coefficients, initially injected at h = 450 km. We investigate long-term trends of atmospheric drag on LEO satellites due to solar forcing induced atmospheric perturbations and heating at different phases of the solar cycle, and during short intervals of strong geomagnetic disturbances or magnetic storms. We show dependence of orbital decay on the severity of both solar cycle and phase and the extent of geomagnetic perturbations. The result of the model compares well with observed decay profile of some existing LEO satellites and provide a justification of the theoretical considerations used here.