characterization of low earth orbit dynamics by perturbation frequency analysis.

Paper number

IAC-17,C1,9,2,x38942

Author

Dr. Giulia Schettino, IFAC-CNR, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Elisa Maria Alessi, IFAC-CNR, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Alessandro Rossi, IFAC-CNR, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Giovanni Valsecchi, INAF-IAPS, Italy

Year

2017

Abstract

As part of the deep dynamical analysis of debris orbits carried out within the
H2020 ReDSHIFT project, we present a characterization of the orbital elements
of low-altitude objects in terms of their periodic components. Considering a
representative sample of possible initial orbital conditions in the Low Earth
Orbit (LEO) region, we propagated the dynamics of the objects over a suitable
time span.  The dynamical model includes the effects of geopotential up to
degree and order 5, lunisolar perturbations, solar radiation pressure and
atmospheric drag. We further accounted for different values of the area-to-mass
ratio of the debris. Then, we decomposed the resulting quasi-periodic series in
their spectral components by a numerical computation of Fourier transforms,
accounting for the finite duration of the signals. The aim of this spectral
analysis is to clearly link each frequency signature to the dynamical effect
which originates it in order to build a frequency chart of the LEO region. 

Indeed, the detailed analysis of the principal spectral components turns out to
be a powerful tool to enable a better understanding of the relative importance
of each specific gravititational and non-gravitational perturbation in the LEO
region as a function of the initial semi-major axis, eccentricity and
inclination of the debris.

Ultimately, the analysis will be used, together with the 
cartography of the LEO phase space, to identify the most suitable
perturbations to be exploited to facilitate the passive
"dynamical de-orbiting" of spaceraft at the end of life. 

This work is funded through the European Commission Horizon 2020, Framework
Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), under the ReDSHIFT project
(grant agreement n. 687500).

Abstract document

IAC-17,C1,9,2,x38942.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-17,C1,9,2,x38942.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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