ON APPROXIMATING A PERIODIC ATMOSPHERIC DRAG FUNCTION FOR SATELLITES BY A PIECEWISE CONSTANT FUNCTION.

Abstract

A satellite is affected by periodic drag fluctuations. We approximate the periodic drag by a step function. We calculate the standard deviation in the satellite's coordinates due to this approximation. The results permit us to estimate the time over which we may keep the drag coefficient constant so as to achieve any desired degree of signal reduction. We confine ourselves to circular orbits. Numerical results are given for a 90 minute satellite and a drag to gravity ratio of 2 x 10 to the -8th power. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 24, 1967
Accession Number
AD0656086

Entities

People

  • Bernd Zondek

Organizations

  • Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Circular Orbits
  • Coefficients
  • Data Science
  • Information Science
  • Mathematical Analysis
  • Mathematics
  • Orbits
  • Standards
  • Step Functions

Fields of Study

  • Mathematics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Operations Research
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris