Preliminary estimation of the atmospheric density from the position, velocity and acceleration states for a CuboSat satellite

Wantuir Aparecido de Freitas¹; André Fenili¹

¹ Universidade Federal do abc

doi:10.20906/CPS/CILAMCE2017-0470

Resumo

Winds and neutral density are critical parameters for the understanding of the physics and dynamics of the mesosphere - thermosphere - ionosphere (MTI) system. Measurements of these parameters are restricted to specific geographical locations and usually available for limited altitude. As altitude rises, atmospheric density ranges from a higher concentration at sea level to a more rarefied condition at higher altitudes. Obtaining information on atmospheric density at determined altitude levels enhances the understanding of the MTI system. In this work, a survey of the concentration of the chemical elements which compose the atmosphere in the regions studied, will be carried out by an analysis of the drag generated by the atmosphere on the satellite body. In order to understand the dissipative effect of the drag force, a scenario that represents the influence of such force on the surface of a hypothetical satellite is created. When the satellite is in operation the position, velocity and acceleration are well determined. So, it can be trace and its location determined in any interval of time. Based on information about the dynamics of the satellite, one can infer about the behavior of the atmospheric density. The proposal of this paper is to develop a methodology using a priori knowledge of the position, velocity and acceleration states of a satellite in order to provide a wider horizontal sample of the atmospheric densities. Perigee measurements at low altitudes, deepening into the mesosphere, are highlighted as a capability designed to provide various atmospheric profiles across a broad region of altitudes. Therefore, it is an efficient and inexpensive way of obtaining temporal behavioral information of atmospheric density only with software resources.

Palavras-chave: drag; cubosat; atmospheric density; mesosphere; thermosphere; ionosphere; velocity; acceleration