A passive satellite deorbiting strategy for medium earth orbit using solar radiation pressure and the J2 effect
A passive satellite deorbiting strategy for medium earth orbit using solar radiation pressure and the J2 effect
The growing population of space debris poses a serious risk to the future of space flight. To effectively manage the increase of debris in orbit, end-of life disposal has become a key requirement for future missions. This poses a challenge for Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) spacecraft which require a large ?v to re-enter the atmosphere or reach the geostationary graveyard orbit. This paper further explores a passive strategy based on the joint effects of solar radiation pressure and the Earth's oblateness acting on a high area-to-mass-ratio object. The concept was previously presented as an analytical planar model. This paper uses a full 3D model to validate the analytical results numerically for equatorial circular orbits first, then investigating higher inclinations. It is shown that for higher inclinations the initial position of the Sun and right ascension of the ascending node become increasingly important. A region of very low required area-to-mass-ratio is identified in the parameter space of semi-major axis and inclination which occurs for altitudes below 10,000 km
197-206
Lücking, Charlotte
fd25bf1e-2dd3-4cdf-bee4-92c21d3a5ef2
Colombo, Camilla
595ced96-9494-40f2-9763-ad4a0f96bc86
McInnes, Colin R.
7cc26e55-9787-4f37-b359-400fe66e2468
August 2012
Lücking, Charlotte
fd25bf1e-2dd3-4cdf-bee4-92c21d3a5ef2
Colombo, Camilla
595ced96-9494-40f2-9763-ad4a0f96bc86
McInnes, Colin R.
7cc26e55-9787-4f37-b359-400fe66e2468
Lücking, Charlotte, Colombo, Camilla and McInnes, Colin R.
(2012)
A passive satellite deorbiting strategy for medium earth orbit using solar radiation pressure and the J2 effect.
Acta Astronautica, 77, .
(doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2012.03.026).
Abstract
The growing population of space debris poses a serious risk to the future of space flight. To effectively manage the increase of debris in orbit, end-of life disposal has become a key requirement for future missions. This poses a challenge for Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) spacecraft which require a large ?v to re-enter the atmosphere or reach the geostationary graveyard orbit. This paper further explores a passive strategy based on the joint effects of solar radiation pressure and the Earth's oblateness acting on a high area-to-mass-ratio object. The concept was previously presented as an analytical planar model. This paper uses a full 3D model to validate the analytical results numerically for equatorial circular orbits first, then investigating higher inclinations. It is shown that for higher inclinations the initial position of the Sun and right ascension of the ascending node become increasingly important. A region of very low required area-to-mass-ratio is identified in the parameter space of semi-major axis and inclination which occurs for altitudes below 10,000 km
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e-pub ahead of print date: 1 May 2012
Published date: August 2012
Organisations:
Astronautics Group
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Local EPrints ID: 342365
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/342365
ISSN: 0094-5765
PURE UUID: 63806a2f-4a27-4957-8d00-2c613fb1c02f
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Date deposited: 24 Aug 2012 08:21
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 11:49
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Author:
Charlotte Lücking
Author:
Camilla Colombo
Author:
Colin R. McInnes
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