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Semi-analytical propagation with drag computation and flow expansion using differential algebra

Semi-analytical propagation with drag computation and flow expansion using differential algebra
Semi-analytical propagation with drag computation and flow expansion using differential algebra
Efficient long-term propagation of orbits is needed for e.g. the design of disposal orbits and analysis of their stability. Semi-analytical methods are suited for this as they combine accuracy and efficiency. However, the semi-analytical modelling of non-conservative forces is challenging and in general numerical quadrature is required to accurately average their effects, which reduces the efficiency of semi-analytical propagation. In this work we apply Differential Algebra (DA) for efficient evaluation of the mean element rates due to drag. The effect of drag is computed numerically in the DA arithmetic such that in subsequent integration steps the drag can be calculated by only evaluating a DA expansion. The method is tested for decaying low Earth and geostationary transfer orbits and it is shown that the method can provide accurate propagation with reduced computation time with respect to nominal semi-analytical and numerical propagation. Furthermore, the semi-analytical propagator is entirely implemented in DA to enable higher-order expansion of the flow that can be used for efficient propagation of initial conditions. The approach is applied to expand the evolution of a Galileo disposal orbit. The results show a large validity domain of the expansion which represents a promising result for the application of the method for e.g. stability analysis.
Gondelach, David, Jonathan
693aa9ad-3625-4ec6-867c-101fa9c98b00
Armellin, Roberto
61950d5c-3dcf-45f5-b391-7e8c6ffb8e6f
Lewis, Hugh
e9048cd8-c188-49cb-8e2a-45f6b316336a
San-Juan, Juan F.
0b015e57-0ce0-4f06-92e2-444ea16992ec
Wittig, Alexander
3a140128-b118-4b8c-9856-a0d4f390b201
Gondelach, David, Jonathan
693aa9ad-3625-4ec6-867c-101fa9c98b00
Armellin, Roberto
61950d5c-3dcf-45f5-b391-7e8c6ffb8e6f
Lewis, Hugh
e9048cd8-c188-49cb-8e2a-45f6b316336a
San-Juan, Juan F.
0b015e57-0ce0-4f06-92e2-444ea16992ec
Wittig, Alexander
3a140128-b118-4b8c-9856-a0d4f390b201

Gondelach, David, Jonathan, Armellin, Roberto, Lewis, Hugh, San-Juan, Juan F. and Wittig, Alexander (2017) Semi-analytical propagation with drag computation and flow expansion using differential algebra. 27th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Marriott Plaza, San Antonio, United States. 05 - 09 Feb 2017. 18 pp .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Efficient long-term propagation of orbits is needed for e.g. the design of disposal orbits and analysis of their stability. Semi-analytical methods are suited for this as they combine accuracy and efficiency. However, the semi-analytical modelling of non-conservative forces is challenging and in general numerical quadrature is required to accurately average their effects, which reduces the efficiency of semi-analytical propagation. In this work we apply Differential Algebra (DA) for efficient evaluation of the mean element rates due to drag. The effect of drag is computed numerically in the DA arithmetic such that in subsequent integration steps the drag can be calculated by only evaluating a DA expansion. The method is tested for decaying low Earth and geostationary transfer orbits and it is shown that the method can provide accurate propagation with reduced computation time with respect to nominal semi-analytical and numerical propagation. Furthermore, the semi-analytical propagator is entirely implemented in DA to enable higher-order expansion of the flow that can be used for efficient propagation of initial conditions. The approach is applied to expand the evolution of a Galileo disposal orbit. The results show a large validity domain of the expansion which represents a promising result for the application of the method for e.g. stability analysis.

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Gondelach et al 2017 - Semi-Analytical Propagation With Drag Computation And Flow Expansion Using Differential Algebra - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 27 February 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 27 February 2017
Venue - Dates: 27th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Marriott Plaza, San Antonio, United States, 2017-02-05 - 2017-02-09
Organisations: Aeronautics, Astronautics & Comp. Eng, Astronautics Group, Education Hub

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 408189
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/408189
PURE UUID: 5e700033-30c1-4c00-b591-055d4095cd64
ORCID for David, Jonathan Gondelach: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8511-9523
ORCID for Hugh Lewis: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3946-8757
ORCID for Alexander Wittig: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4594-0368

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 16 May 2017 04:03
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 05:04

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Contributors

Author: David, Jonathan Gondelach ORCID iD
Author: Hugh Lewis ORCID iD
Author: Juan F. San-Juan

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