Back to Search
Start Over
Ballistic Coefficient Calculation Based on Optical Angle Measurements of Space Debris
- Source :
- Sensors, Vol 23, Iss 18, p 7668 (2023)
- Publication Year :
- 2023
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2023.
-
Abstract
- Atmospheric drag is an important factor affecting orbit determination and prediction of low-orbit space debris. To obtain accurate ballistic coefficients of space debris, we propose a calculation method based on measured optical angles. Angle measurements of space debris with a perigee height below 1400 km acquired from a photoelectric array were used for orbit determination. Perturbation equations of atmospheric drag were used to calculate the semi-major-axis variation. The ballistic coefficients of space debris were estimated and compared with those published by the North American Aerospace Defense Command in terms of orbit prediction error. The 48 h orbit prediction error of the ballistic coefficients obtained from the proposed method is reduced by 18.65% compared with the published error. Hence, our method seems suitable for calculating space debris ballistic coefficients and supporting related practical applications.
- Subjects :
- ballistic coefficients
orbit prediction
mean element
Chemical technology
TP1-1185
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14248220
- Volume :
- 23
- Issue :
- 18
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Sensors
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.9132a761e9b14c87ab930c12ff51346e
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/s23187668