The Orbital Lifetimes of Molniya Satellites
Abstract
Between 1965 and 1974, forty Molniya communication satellites were launched by the USSR into highly elliptic orbits with a period near 12 hours, initial perigee height near 500 km and initial inclinations of either 65 degrees or 63 degrees. The orbits of the Molniyas are strongly affected by lunisolar perturbations, and the satellites decay when the perigee is forced down to near 100 km height by these perturbations, which are normally calculated by numerical integration. In this report an approximate analytical method is developed for 65 degrees Molniyas which shows that the lifetime must be between 1 and 7 years, and successfully defines the domain of permissible lifetimes as a function of the initial right ascension of the node. The lifetimes of all the satellites lie within or very near the boundaries of this domain.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA015194
Entities
People
- Desmond King-Hele
Organizations
- Royal Aircraft Establishment