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The change in satellite orbital inclination caused by a rotating atmosphere with day-to-night density variation

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Abstract

The theory specifying the change Δi in a satellite's orbital inclination due to atmospheric rotation, in terms of the decrease in orbital period ΔT, has been extended to an atmosphere with sinusoidal variation of density between day and night. It is found that with certain special sets of values for the orbital parameters, the day-to-night variation in the Earth's atmosphere can alter the equation for Δi/ΔT by as much as 25% though only for a few days. Appreciable changes in Δi/ΔT persisting for several months can only occur for certain resonant orbits: the maximum change is then about 8%. Near-resonance is very unlikely, but the resonance conditions are derived so that orbits can be recognised and avoided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Aircraft Establisment, Farnborough, Hants, England

    D. G. King-Hele & Doreen M. C. Walker

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  1. D. G. King-Hele
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  2. Doreen M. C. Walker
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King-Hele, D.G., Walker, D.M.C. The change in satellite orbital inclination caused by a rotating atmosphere with day-to-night density variation. Celestial Mechanics 5, 41–54 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01227822

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01227822

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