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Perturbation Effects of Quadratic Drag on the Orbital Elements of a Satellite in a Central Force Field

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Abstract

This paper presents the perturbation effects of quadratic drag on the orbital elements of satellites in a central force field. The author studied this subject by using the mixed-drag model, that is the Humi-Carter drag model in terms of the exponential drag model. The solutions of the perturbation equations are represented by the Bessel function. The results show clearly that the semimajor axis and eccentricity exhibit secular variation, but the longitude of perigee exhibits no variation. As an example we calculated the secular variation of the semimajor axis, eccentricity, perigee and apogee distances, and height for three satellites and the obtained results are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China

    Lin-Sen Li

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  1. Lin-Sen Li
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Li, LS. Perturbation Effects of Quadratic Drag on the Orbital Elements of a Satellite in a Central Force Field. J of Astronaut Sci 58, 23–33 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03321157

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