Quasistatic Microaccelerations onboard the Foton Satellite during Its Flight at High-Altitude Orbits

Abstract

The level of quasistatic microaccelerations onboard the Foton-M satellite is predicted for its flights in two orbits: the planned orbit with the altitudes in perigee h _π = 262 km and in apogee h _α = 304 km and the orbit with h _π = 262 km and h _α = 350 km. The prediction is based on mathematical simulation of the satellite motion with respect to its center of mass under the action of gravitational and aerodynamic moments. The model is represented by the system of equations of the satellite rotational motion. Parameters of this system are chosen from the condition of coincidence of the motion of preceding Foton satellites (h _π ≈ 220 km and h _α ≈ 400 km) calculated using this model with the results of determination of actual rotational motion of the Foton-11 and Foton-12 satellites. With the help of the model thus calibrated, a calculation is made of the rotational motion of the Foton-M satellite and of the quasistatic microaccelerations onboard it. As is shown by the results of simulation, the use of the first and the second orbits will result in reductions of microaccelerations by 30% and 60%, respectively.