Rarefied gas effects on the aerodynamics of high area-to-mass ratio spacecraft in orbit

White, Craig and Colombo, Camilla and Scanlon, Thomas and McInnes, Colin and Reese, Jason (2013) Rarefied gas effects on the aerodynamics of high area-to-mass ratio spacecraft in orbit. Advances in Space Research, 51 (11). pp. 2112-2124. ISSN 0273-1177

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Abstract

The aerodynamic situation of a satellite-on-a-chip operating in low Earth orbit bears some resemblance to a classical Crookes radiometer. The large area-to-mass ratio characteristic of a SpaceChip means that very small surface-dependent forces produce non-negligible accelerations that can significantly alter its orbit. When the temperature of a SpaceChip changes, the drag force can be changed: if the temperature increases, the drag increases (and vice versa). Analytical expressions available in the literature that describe the change in drag coefficient with orbit altitude and SpaceChip temperature compare well with our direct simulation Monte Carlo results presented here. It is demonstrated that modifying the temperature of a SpaceChip could be used for relative orbit control of individual SpaceChips in a swarm, with a maximum change in position per orbit of 50 m being achievable at 600 km altitude.

Author(s):White, Craig, Colombo, Camilla, Scanlon, Thomas, McInnes, Colin and Reese, Jason
Item type:Article
ID code:43199
Keywords:SpaceChip, rarefied gas, DSMC, position control, Mechanical engineering and machinery, Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computational Mechanics, Control and Systems Engineering
Subjects:Technology > Mechanical engineering and machinery
Technology > Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Department:Faculty of Engineering > Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Technology and Innovation Centre > Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing
Depositing user: Pure Administrator
Date deposited:14 Mar 2013 10:50
Last modified:01 Feb 2019 03:23
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URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/43199
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