Rarefied Plasma Aerodynamics For LEO Objects In The Ionosphere
Abstract
Major gaps exist with respect to the science of in-orbit behavior – in particular, knowledge of and predictive capability for the interaction between Resident Space Objects and the rarefied neutral and plasma environment in Low Earth Orbit. The standard assumptions that all RSOs behave like cannon balls with constant drag coefficient and that momentum exchange with charged particles is the same as for neutral particles, lead to significant errors in orbit propagation.If rarefied plasma aerodynamics can be understood and predicted with significantly greater fidelity than the current state-of-the-art, then orbit prediction capability with reduced uncertainty can be developed to assist US, Australian and partner efforts to safeguard space-based technologies in the congested and contested environment of space.UNSW is building capability to achieve this by coupling together the necessary parts of the puzzle - physics of rarefied space object “aerodynamics” and space physics and space weather that affects it - and employing our capabilities in ground-based and in-orbit experiments, ground-based observations and high performance computing to do so. A roadmap has been developed in which physics-based numerical simulations are being used to explore the flow physics and associated forces and moments on RSOs in the ionosphere; a ground-based satellite wind tunnel is being developed to provide ground-based experimental capability to probe the physics and validate the simulations; and miniature-satellite-based canonical flight experiments are being planned to provide the ultimate validation of the capabilities.In particular, UNSW proposes here to build on current supercomputer simulations that couple DSMC and Particle-in-Cell methods for modelling space object interactions with the ionosphere, to develop improved atmospheric/ionospheric force modeling for LEO objects. This activity is designed to align with and support the University of Arizona-led AFRL Astrodynamics CoE.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 05, 2016
- Source ID
- FA23861614134
Entities
People
- Laurie Brown
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of New South Wales