Evaluation of orbital decay of a satellite at low altitude due to atmospheric drag as a function of solar activity

Abstract

Artificial satellites in low Earth orbit have as main disturbance the atmospheric drag, which is a non-conservative disturbance that causes the satellite to lose orbital energy due to the friction with the air. Basically, the drag force is a function of the velocity, the local air density and the satellite's constructive parameters. The air density is a function of altitude, longitude, latitude, geomagnetic index and solar activity. Solar storms are responsible for a wide range of terrestrial effects, especially in damage to telecommunications systems. Another relevant effect of solar activity is the variation in the volume of the atmosphere and consequently in the value of the air density for a given altitude, longitude and latitude. This work provides an initial approach, through simulation, in the engineering effort to deal with this disturbance.