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A numerical investigation on the eccentricity growth of GNSS disposal orbits

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Abstract

We present the results of an extensive numerical exploration performed on the eccentricity growth in MEO associated with two possible end-of-life disposal strategies for GNSS satellites. The study calls attention to the existence of values of initial inclination, longitude of ascending node, and argument of perigee that are more advantageous in terms of long-term stability of the orbit. The important role of the initial epoch and a corresponding periodicity are also shown. The present investigation is influential in view of recent analytical and numerical developments on the chaotic nature of the region due to lunisolar perturbations, but also for the upcoming Galileo and BeiDou constellations.

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Notes

  1. The studies were carried out under the ESA/GSP contract ‘Disposal Strategies Analysis for MEO Orbits’ No. 4000107201/12/F/MOS.

  2. In this work, GTO and Molniya orbits, which cross the MEO region, are not considered.

  3. It should be mentioned that throughout this work all plots correspond to the evolution of mean orbital elements.

  4. The Saros has been the basis on which the prediction of eclipses rests since the very dawn of Chaldean history; after the lapse of one Saros period, solar and lunar eclipses recur under almost identical circumstances except that they are displaced about \(120^\circ \) westward on the Earth.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been performed under the ESA/GSP contract ‘Disposal Strategies Analysis for MEO Orbits’ No. 4000107201/12/F/MOS. A. Rosengren acknowledges the European Commissions Framework Programme 7, through the Stardust Marie Curie InitialTraining Network, FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN, Grant Agreement 317185.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IFAC-CNR, via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

    E. M. Alessi, A. J. Rosengren & A. Rossi

  2. IMCCE/Observatoire de Paris, Université Lille1, 1 Impasse de l’Observatoire, 59000, Lille, France

    F. Deleflie

  3. IAPS-INAF, via Fosso del Cavalieri 100, 00133, Rome, Italy

    G. B. Valsecchi

  4. Thales Servies, 3 Impasse de l’Europe, 31400, Toulouse, France

    J. Daquin

  5. ESA-ESOC, Space Debris Office, Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany

    K. Merz

Authors
  1. E. M. Alessi
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  2. F. Deleflie
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  3. A. J. Rosengren
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  4. A. Rossi
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  5. G. B. Valsecchi
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  6. J. Daquin
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  7. K. Merz
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Correspondence to E. M. Alessi.

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Alessi, E.M., Deleflie, F., Rosengren, A.J. et al. A numerical investigation on the eccentricity growth of GNSS disposal orbits. Celest Mech Dyn Astr 125, 71–90 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10569-016-9673-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10569-016-9673-4

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