A MODEL FOR SATELLITE ELECTRIC DRAG CALCULATIONS

Abstract

The charge on a satellite is likely to be so great that electric drag calculations based on the usual linear theories of charged particle energy losses will not be valid. The classical energy loss theory is discussed and the inadequacy of the linear approximation is demonstrated. From a phenomenological model for the medium a generalized Debye length is calculated and used as the cut-off parameter for Coulomb scattering. The results are applied to the West Ford needles and show a linear dependence of drag on needle potential. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0275313

Entities

People

  • G.e. Modesitt

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Charged Particles
  • Particles
  • Scattering
  • Space Systems

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Forest Ecology
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Orbital Debris