The effect of the diurnal variation in temperature on densities derived from near-circular satellite orbits, with applications to Skylab 1 (1973-27A)

The influence of air drag and the geopotential on near-circular satellite orbits, eccentricity e < 0.01, is considered. A model of the atmosphere is adopted that allows for oblateness, and in which the density behaviour approximates to the observed diurnal variation. Differential equations governing the variation in e and the argument of perigee ω are derived by combining the effects of air drag with those of the Earth’s gravitational field. These are solved numerically using initial conditions obtained from a series of computed orbits of the satellite 1963-27 A. The behaviour of the orbital elements predicted by the numerical solution is compared with the observed elements to test the developed theory, and to obtain values of atmospheric parameters at heights near 400 km.

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A study of near-circular satellite orbits perturbed by the zonal harmonics and in resonance with the Earth's gravity field

Advances in Space Research ◽

10.1016/0273-1177(91)90249-j ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 171-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M.S. Gilthorpe ◽

P. Moore

Keyword(s):

Gravity Field ◽

Satellite Orbits ◽

Earth’S Gravity Field ◽

Zonal Harmonics ◽

Circular Satellite

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Effect of ellipticity of the equator on 24-hour nearly circular satellite orbits

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres ◽

10.1029/jz067i001p00329 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 329-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Leon Blitzer ◽

E. M. Boughton ◽

G. Kang ◽

R. M. Page

Keyword(s):

Satellite Orbits ◽

Circular Satellite

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Stability of circular satellite orbits in the earth's normal gravitational field with allowance for the dipole magnetic field

Journal of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics ◽

10.1016/0021-8928(67)90017-2 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 751-757

Author(s):

V.G. Degtiarev

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Gravitational Field ◽

Satellite Orbits ◽

Dipole Magnetic Field ◽

Circular Satellite

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The advance of the perigee of a satellite in a rotating oblate atmosphere with a diurnal variation in density

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A - Mathematical and Physical Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspa.1983.0118 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 389 (1797) ◽

pp. 433-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Keyword(s):

Diurnal Variation ◽

Scale Height ◽

Satellite Orbits ◽

Third Order ◽

Air Drag ◽

Small Eccentricity ◽

Density Scale

The effect of air drag on satellite orbits of small eccentricity, 0.01 ≾ е ≾ 0.2, is considered. A model of the atmosphere that allows for oblateness, and in which the density behaviour approximates to the observed diurnal variation, is adopted. The equation governing the changes due to drag in the argument of perigee ω , during one revolution of the satellite, is integrated with the assumption that the density scale height H is constant. The resulting expression for e ∆ ω is presented to third order in e . Compact expressions for e ∆ ω and e ∆ ω / ∆ T D , where ∆ T D is the corresponding change in the period, are obtained when H is allowed to vary with altitude. It is shown that there is an equivalence between the variable- H and the constant- H equations, provided that the value of H used in the latter is chosen appropriately.

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