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Decay of a highly eccentric satellite

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Abstract

The re-entry phase of a highly eccentric satellite is discussed. Numerical simulations allowing the prediction of the exact date of re-entry of a highly eccentric satellite are exposed.

It is shown that under very particular circumstances the life of the satellite can be extended by a few days. The number of final revolutions of the rapidly contracting orbit depends critically on the air density between 70 km and 100 km.

Re-entry of the European scientific satellite HEOS-1 predicted for 28 October, 1975 is near such a situation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, F.R.G.

    G. Janin & E. A. Roth

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  1. G. Janin
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  2. E. A. Roth
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Janin, G., Roth, E.A. Decay of a highly eccentric satellite. Celestial Mechanics 14, 141–149 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01247141

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01247141

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