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Analysis of Satellite Drag and Spin Decay DataWork was begun as an effort to obtain satellite drag and upper atmospheric wind data from a spinning spherical satellite to be launched from the space shuttle scheduled for the STS-11 flight. The satellite was an inflated sphere having high area-to-mass ratio which would result in measurable orbital decay due to aerodynamic drag forces experienced by the satellite in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The satellite would also experience a spin decay due to the aerodynamic torque acting to slow the satellite spinning. The original proposal was to develop data analysis procedures to be employed to extract the desired information. Work was performed concerning the data analysis procedure prior to the STS-11 launch; however, the major effort was to begin after the data had been obtained. Unfortunately, the launch of the inflatable sphere on STS-11 was a failure in that the sphere did not inflate properly and no data was obtained. The emphasis of the work planned under this effort was then changed to develop a proposal for a series of experiments similar to the one originally planned for STS-11.
Document ID
19860006782
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Karr, G. R. (Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1985
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:178609
NASA-CR-178609
UAH-456
Accession Number
86N16252
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-35663
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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