Comparison of Radiation Pressure Perturbations on Rocket Bodies and Debris at Geosynchronous Earth Orbit

Abstract

Recent research has highlighted the need for physically consistent radiation pressure and Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) models. This paper seeks to evaluate the impact of BRDF-consistent radiation pressure models compared to changes in the other BRDF parameters. The differences in orbital position arising because of changes in the shape, attitude, angular rates, BRDF parameters, and radiation pressure model are plotted as a function of time for simulated rocket bodies and debris at geosynchronous orbit (GEO). The initial position and velocity of the space object is kept fixed, and the orbital position difference between a baseline orbit and the perturbed orbit are plotted as a function of time. This is similar to how the effects of perturbations have been visualized in the past in commonly used astrodynamics references.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2014
Accession Number
ADA610035

Entities

People

  • Charles J. Wetterer
  • Keric Hill
  • Moriba Jah

Organizations

  • Pacific Defense Strategies Inc.

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Distribution Functions
  • Earth Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Materials
  • Orbits
  • Perturbations
  • Radiation
  • Radiation Pressure
  • Reflectance
  • Reflectivity
  • Simulations
  • Solar Radiation
  • Space Objects
  • Space Surveillance
  • Surface Properties

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Medical Imaging.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris