Email this article 
Open Access
Subscription or Fee Access
Orbit Propagation and Lifetime Analysis of NARSSCUBE-2 Using High Precision Numerical Approach
(*) Corresponding author
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15866/irease.v15i3.21568
Abstract
Due to their short mission lifetime, Cube satellites launched in the last decades have increased the number of objects in Low Earth Orbits and the number of space debris. As a result, it is important to obtain accurate measurements of CubeSats trajectories in order to determine their decay and orbital lifetime and to avoid collisions with debris. In this paper, a special perturbation technique has been used as an orbit propagator in order to model orbital motion and predict the behavior of Cube satellites subjected to perturbations. This technique is a high-precision numerical approach via Cowell's formulation with adaptive step size Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg (RKF78) for numerical integration. The technique used is named SPC (Special Perturbation using Cowell's method). Orbit propagation and orbital decay evolution of NARSSCUBE-2 have been analyzed using appropriate orbital parameters derived from historic NORAD Two Line Element sets. The results from the SPC technique have been compared with the SGP4 analytical orbit propagator and then verified with the HPOP numerical orbit propagator from FreeFlyer® astrodynamics software. The accuracy of each propagator has been verified with the observation data. The SPC orbit propagator gives a higher accuracy of orbit prediction compared to SGP4 and closely matches with HPOP.
Copyright © 2022 Praise Worthy Prize - All rights reserved.
Keywords
References
https://www.nanosats.eu, 2021.
Zhongming, Zhu, et al. ESA's Space Environment Report 2021. (2021).
Spaceworks Enterprises, Inc., "2018 Nano/Microsatellite Market Forecast," 8th Edition, 2018, accessed at http://www.spaceworkscommercial.com/.
Abercromby, Kira; Ostrom, Chris. CubeSats and orbital debris. In: Cubesat Handbook, (Academic Press, 2021. p. 379-387).
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817884-3.00020-5
Flores, Roberto; Burhani, Burhani Makame; Fantino, Elena. A method for accurate and efficient propagation of satellite orbits: A case study for a Molniya orbit. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 2021, 60.2: 2661-2676.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.12.056
Srivastava, Vineet K., Padmdeo Mishra, and B. N. Ramakrishna. Satellite ephemeris prediction for the Earth-orbiting satellites. Aerospace Systems (2021): 1-12.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42401-021-00092-z
Honda, Tomoyuki, et al. High Precision Orbit Determination Method Based on GPS Flight Data for ALE-1. Transactions of The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Aerospace Technology Japan, 2021, 19.5: 744-752.
https://doi.org/10.2322/tastj.19.744
Vallado, David A. Fundamentals of astrodynamics and applications, (Springer Science & Business Media, 2001).
Graziani, Filippo; Trofimov, Sergey; Battistini, Simone. Applied astrodynamics. In: Cubesat Handbook, (Academic Press, 2021. p. 35-52).
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817884-3.00001-1
Miura, Nicholas Z. Comparison and design of Simplified General Perturbation Models (SGP4) and code for NASA Johnson Space Center, Orbital debris program office. 2009.
Hoots, Felix R.; Schumacher JR, Paul W.; Glover, Robert A. History of analytical orbit modeling in the US space surveillance system. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2004, 27.2: 174-185.
https://doi.org/10.2514/1.9161
Vallado, David, et al. Revisiting spacetrack report# 3. In: AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference and Exhibit. 2006. P. 6753.
https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2006-6753
FreeFlyer, A.I. Solutions. (accessed on 30 Sep. 2021).
Available online: https://ai-solutions.com/freeflyer-astrodynamic-software/
Hoots, Felix R.; Roehrich, Ronald L. Models for the propagation of NORAD element sets. AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND PETERSON AFB CO OFFICE OF ASTRODYNAMICS, 1980.
https://doi.org/10.21236/ADA093554
Kovář, Pavel; Puričer, Pavel; Kovářová, Kateřina. Study of the Two-Line Element Accuracy by 1U CubeSat with a GPS Receiver. Sensors, 2022, 22.8: 2902.
https://doi.org/10.3390/s22082902
C. Levit and W. Marshall. Improved orbit predictions using two-line elements. Advances in Space Research, 2011.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2010.10.017
Atallah, Ahmed M., et al. Accuracy and efficiency comparison of six numerical integrators for propagating perturbed orbits. The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, 2020, 67.2: 511-538
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40295-019-00167-2
Rocha, Angel. Numerical Methods and Tolerance Analysis for Orbit Propagation. 2018. Ph.D. Thesis. San José State University.
Vallado D. A. et al (2010) American National Standard, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Astrodynamics-Propagation Specifications, Technical Definitions, and Recommended Practices, ANSI/AIAA S-131-2010
Haneveer, M. R. Orbital Lifetime Predictions: An assessment of model-based ballistic coefficient estimations and adjustment for temporal drag coefficient variations. Dept. Space Eng. TUDelft. M.Sc. 2017.
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:e28ba14f-f87c-4ea8-be1b-d4baa5ca4822
Van Der Houwen, P. J.; Messina, E.; DE Swart, J. J. B. Parallel Störmer-Cowell methods for high-precision orbit computations. Applied numerical mathematics, 1999, 31.3: 353-374.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9274(98)00135-4
De Iaco Veris, Alessandro. Practical astrodynamics, (Berlin: Springer, 2018).
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62220-0
Vermeire, Brian C. Paired explicit Runge-Kutta schemes for stiff systems of equations. Journal of Computational Physics, 2019, 393: 465-483.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcp.2019.05.014
Curtis, Howard. Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students. Revised Reprint. (Butterworth-Heinemann, 2020).
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102133-0.00006-4
Fantinoa, Elena; Flores, Roberto; Adheem, Amna. Accurate and efficient propagation of satellite orbits in the terrestrial gravity field. arXiv preprint arXiv:2007.02321, 2020.
SIDI, Marcel J. Spacecraft dynamics, and control: a practical engineering approach, (Cambridge university press, 1997)
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511815652
WGS 84 Earth Gravitational Model. earth-info.nga.mil. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
Piñeros, Jhonathan O. Murcia; Dos Santos, Walter Abrahao; Prado, Antonio FBA. Analysis of the orbit lifetime of CubeSats in low Earth orbits including periodic variation in drag due to attitude motion. Advances in Space Research, 2021, 67.2: 902-918.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2020.10.024
Macario-Rojas, A., et al. Atmospheric interaction with nanosatellites from observed orbital decay. Advances in Space Research, 2018, 61.12: 2972-2982.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2018.02.022
ATMOSPHERE, US Standard. Noaa, NASA, USAF. Washington DC, 1976, 3.
Khodairy, S., et al. Impact of solar activity on Low Earth Orbiting satellites. In: Journal of Physics: Conference Series. IOP Publishing, 2020. p. 012010.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1523/1/012010
Montenbruck, Oliver; Pfleger, Thomas. Physical Ephemerides of the Planets. In: Astronomy on the Personal Computer, (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2000. p. 131-149).
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03436-7_7
Emelyanov, N. V.; Varfolomeev, M. I.; Lainey, V. New ephemerides of outer planetary satellites. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2022, 512.2: 2044-2050.
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac586
Hintz, G. R.; MECHANICS, Orbital. Astrodynamics: Techniques and Tools for Space Missions. 2015.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09444-1
Li, Jie, et al. Examination and Enhancement of solar radiation pressure model for BDS-3 satellites. In: EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts. 2021. p. EGU21-8307.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-8307
Butcher, John Charles. Numerical methods for ordinary differential equations, (John Wiley & Sons, 2016).
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119121534
Tewari, Ashish. Atmospheric and space flight dynamics, (Birkhũser Boston, 2007).
Fehlberg, Erwin. Classical fifth-, sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-order Runge-Kutta formulas with step size control. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1968.
Yang, Li; Ruan, Haote; Zhang, Yunhan. Autonomous Orbit Determination System of Navigation Satellite Based on Spaceborne GPS Technology. Security and Communication Networks, 2022, 2022.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7463315
Biscani, Francesco; Izzo, Dario. Revisiting high-order Taylor methods for astrodynamics and celestial mechanics. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2021, 504.2: 2614-2628.
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab1032
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Please send any question about this web site to info@praiseworthyprize.com
Copyright © 2005-2024 Praise Worthy Prize
