Validating NRLMSIS Using Atmospheric Densities Derived From Spacecraft Drag: Starshine Example

Details Validating NRLMSIS Using Atmospheric Densities Derived From Spacecraft Drag: Starshine Example Validating NRLMSIS Using Atmospheric Densities Derived From Spacecraft Drag: Starshine Example

Dec 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agufmsa31a..09l&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2001, abstract #SA31A-09

Physics

0355 Thermosphere: Composition And Chemistry

Scientific paper

Model validation is an important component of NRL' s program to develop and test improved semi-empirical models of upper atmosphere neutral densities for operational use. The new NRLMSISE-00 model has been formulated from a database that includes total mass densities from satellite accelerometers and orbit determinations, temperatures from incoherent scatter radar, and molecular oxygen number densities from solar UV occultation. Few direct measurements of thermospheric neutral density exist to validate NRLMSIS, even in recent times. However, information about total mass densities can be extracted from records of spacecraft orbits archived as Two-Line-Element (TLE) sets that were not included in the model formulation. The TLEs provide details of spacecraft position, velocity, mean motion and its derivative, from which total atmospheric mass density can be deduced, proving the spacecraft ballistic coefficient is known. The Starshine spacecraft are especially suitable for this task since they are mirrored spheres for which ballistic coefficients are essentially independent of orientation with respect to the direction of motion. Starshine I, launched in June 1999, completed about 4,000 Earth orbits at altitudes between 200 and 400 km, during 258 days near the maximum of solar cycle 23. Subsequent Starshine spacecraft are planned for launch in 2001 and 2003, also into Earth orbits. We have derived total neutral atmospheric mass densities along the Starshine I trajectory and compare these with the corresponding NRLMSIS determinations. The densities exhibit altitude-dependent monthly time-scale modulations associated with solar rotational modulation of EUV radiation. We use these density fluctuations to quantify uncertainties associated with the model?s use of the 10.7 cm proxy of EUV radiation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Validating NRLMSIS Using Atmospheric Densities Derived From Spacecraft Drag: Starshine Example does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Validating NRLMSIS Using Atmospheric Densities Derived From Spacecraft Drag: Starshine Example, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Validating NRLMSIS Using Atmospheric Densities Derived From Spacecraft Drag: Starshine Example will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1378824