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Full-Text Articles in Astrodynamics

Satellite Deceleration Using Gravity Assist From Asteroid, Nicolas M. Prulhiere Dec 2021

Satellite Deceleration Using Gravity Assist From Asteroid, Nicolas M. Prulhiere

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Satellites have used gravity assists to increase their speed when exploring the solar system. This same maneuver can be done but with the objective to slow down the satellites. This has been theorized to slow down asteroids using the moon to capture them in earth’s orbit. My goal is to determine if asteroids can be used to provide a change in speed great enough to the point that after multiple of these maneuvers the satellite can come to a stop. By being able to slow down and stop a satellite without having to use thrusters will allow the mass allocated …


Updates And Improvements To The Satellite Drag Coefficient Response Surface Modeling Toolkit, Phillip Logan Sheridan Jan 2021

Updates And Improvements To The Satellite Drag Coefficient Response Surface Modeling Toolkit, Phillip Logan Sheridan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

For satellites in Low Earth Orbit, the drag coefficient is a major area of uncertainty. Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have created a Response Surface Modeling (RSM) toolkit to provide the community with a resource for simulating and modeling satellite drag coefficients in Free Molecular Flow. The toolkit combines the high fidelity of numerical simulation techniques with the speed of regression modeling. Specifically, it uses a training sample of drag coefficients simulated with the Test Particle Monte Carlo method with the robust Gaussian Process Regression approach. The RSM toolkit is the prime process to become a toolkit of …


Orbital Determination Feasibility Of Leo Nanosatellites Using Small Aperture Telescopes, Michael R. Strange Mar 2017

Orbital Determination Feasibility Of Leo Nanosatellites Using Small Aperture Telescopes, Michael R. Strange

Master's Theses

This thesis is directed toward the feasibility of observing satellites on the nano scale and determining an accurate propagated orbit using a Meade LX600-ACF 14” diameter aperture telescope currently located on the California Polytechnic State University campus. The optical telescope is fitted with an f/6.3 focal reducer, SBIG ST-10XME CCD camera and Optec TCF-S Focuser. This instrumentation allowed for a 22’ X 15’ arcminute FOV in order to accurately image passing LEO satellites. Through the use of the Double-r and Gauss Initial Orbit Determination methods as well as Least Squared Differential Correction and Extended Kalman Filter Orbit Determination methods, an …