Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agufmsa31a..01k&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2001, abstract #SA31A-01
Physics
0355 Thermosphere: Composition And Chemistry, 2162 Solar Cycle Variations (7536), 2788 Storms And Substorms, 7504 Celestial Mechanics
Scientific paper
For most satellites and debris at altitudes below 1000 km., drag from the residual atmosphere is the major cause of uncertainty in prediction of their position. The atmospheric density at altitudes above 300 km. varies strongly in response to solar and geomagnetic effects, and this can be easily traced in the drag parameter produced in an orbit determination of these objects. Naval Space Command, as part of USSPACECOM, keeps a continuously updated catalog of orbital elements of every space object larger than about 20 cm. in size. We have examined these elements over a solar cycle from minimum to maximum. The variation in drag and thus thermospheric density is dramatic. It is predicted moderately well by current models, but further improvement is desirable. Of particular interest is the behavior of the satellite drag parameter during extreme solar/geophysical conditions (solar storms). Results will be discussed for the numerous events during the current solar maximum, as well as for the March 1989 event that marked the largest disturbance in recent history as measured by satellite drag. Several initiatives are under way to improve drag measurement. These include dynamic calibration of the atmosphere and use of a UV spectrometer to measure density directly. The progress and potential of these methods will be discussed.
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