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Atmospheric drag modeling for orbital micro-debris at leo altitudes

McDonnell, J.A.M., Ratcliff, Paul R., Collier, I. (1996) Atmospheric drag modeling for orbital micro-debris at leo altitudes. Advances in Space Research, 17 (12). pp. 183-188. ISSN 0273-1177. (doi:10.1016/0273-1177(95)00778-D) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:19376)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(95)00778-D

Abstract

Data from satellite impact experiments and the scanning of recovered spacecraft offers an extended timebase to examine, using a consistent methodology, the microparticle fluxes. New penetration data from the TiCCE experiment on Eureca /1, 2/ adds to this database and shows that - despite an expected growth in the micro-debris flux - the observed flux is not greater than either LDEF or SMM. The question arises: ''is this consistent with the micro particle flux being dominated by space debris or by meteoroids''. To assist this assessment, numerical modelling using the Gear method /3/ of explicit time integration of the atmospheric drag lifetime of micron dimensioned orbital debris in both circular (EO) and eccentric (GTO) orbits has been performed for the relevant space exposures. Results are applied to the data to examine whether the recent variations in flux can be attributed to varying levels of, orbital micro-debris caused by atmospheric drag and its changes during the solar cycle.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/0273-1177(95)00778-D
Additional information: Document Type: Proceedings Paper
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: O.O. Odanye
Date Deposited: 04 Jun 2009 10:17 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:57 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/19376 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

McDonnell, J.A.M..

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