Abstract
Two aspects of the orbital evolution of space debris — the long-term evolution and the short-term one — are of interest for an exploration of the near-Earth space. The paper presents some results concerning the estimation of the accuracy of predicted positions of Earth-orbiting objects for the short-term: a few revolutions or a time-span interval of a few days. Calculations of predicted positions take into account the influence of an arbitrary number of spherical coefficients of the Earth gravity potential. Differences in predicted positions due to differences in the best contemporary geopotential models (JGM-2, JGM-3 and GRIM4-S4) are estimated with the use of an analytical theory of motion and a numerical integration.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hoots, F.R.: 1994, “The need for new algorithms”, Proceedings of the Artificial Satellite Theory Workshop (P.K. Seidelmann, B. Kaufman, eds), U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington.
Kessler, D.J. and Loftus, J.P.: 1995, “Orbital debris as an energy management problem”, Adv. Space Res. 16, (11)139-(11)144.
Nerem, R.S., Lerch, F.J., Marschall, J.A., Pavlis, E.C., Putney, B.H., Tapley, B.D., Eanes, R.J., Ries, J.C., Schutz, B.E., Shum, C.K., Watkins, M.M., Chan, J.C., Klosko, J.M., Luthcke, S.B., Patel, G.B., Pavlis, N.K., Williamson, R.G., Rapp, R.H., Biancale, R., and Nouel, F.: 1994, “Gravity model development for TOPEX/POSEIDON: Joint gravity models 1 and 2”, J. Geophys. Res. 99 (C12), 24421–24448.
Potter, A.E.: 1995, “Ground-based optical observations of orbital debris: A reviev”, Adv. Space Res. 16, (11)35-(11)45.
Rossi, A.: 1997, “Long term evolution of Earth orbiting debris”, this volume.
Schwinzer, P., Reigber, Ch,, Bode, A., Kang, Z., Zhu, S.Y., Massmann, F. H,, Raimondo, J.C., Biancale, R., Balmino, G., Lemoine, J.M., Moynot, B., Marty, J.C., Barlier, F., and Boudon, Y.: 1996, “Long-wavelength global gravity field models: GRIM4-S4, GRIM4-C4”, J. Geod., in print.
Stansbery, E.G., Kessler, D.J., Tracy, T.E., Matney, M.J., and Stanley, J.F.: 1995, “Characterization of the orbital debris environment from Haystack radar measurements”, Adv. Space Res. 16, (11)5-(11)16.
Tapley, B.D., Watkins, M.M., Ries, J.C., Davis, G.W., Eanes, R.J., Poole, S.R., Rim, H.J., Schutz, B.E., Shum, C.K., Nerem, R.S., Lerch, F.J., Pavlis, E.C., Klosko, S.M., Pavlis, N.K., and Williamson, R.C., 1994, “The JGM-3 gravity model”, Ann. Geophys. 12, Suppl. 1, C192.
Wnuk, E.: 1988, “Tesseral harmonic perturbations for high order and degree harmonics”, Celest. Mech. 44, 179–191.
Wnuk, E.: 1994, “Earth gravity field and geopotential perturbations of the Earth's artificial satellites”, Proceedings of the Artificial Satellite Theory Workshop (P.K. Seidelmann, B. Kaufman, eds), U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington.
Wnuk, E.: 1995, “Second order perturbations due to the gravity potential of a planet”, in: From Newton to Chaos (A.E. Roy, B.A. Steves, eds), Plenum Press, New York.
Wnuk, E. and Breiter, S.: 1990, “Tesseral harmonic perturbations in radial, transverse and binormal components”, Celest. Mech. 48, 375–385.
Wnuk, E. and Wilczyńska, E.: 1996, “The accuracy of contemporary geopotential models and the accuracy of predicted positions of artificial Earth satellites”, in: Global Gravity Field and its Temporal Variations, IAG Symposium 116 (R.H. Rapp, A.A. Cazenave, R.S. Nerem, eds), Springer.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wnuk, E. Space debris — The short term orbital evolution in the earth gravity field. Celestial Mech Dyn Astr 66, 71–78 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00048825
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00048825