Very Low Altitude Drag-Free Satellites: R D Updates
Very Low Altitude Drag-Free Satellites: R D Updates
Very Low Altitude Drag-Free Satellites: R D Updates
Triad demonstrated the practicality of the drag-free satellite subsystem DISCOS, which provided
control propulsion to precisely counteract the effects of drag and solar radiation pressure, and
results in a pure ballistic trajectory. The advent of Space Shuttle, which is ideally suited to launching
extremely heavy satellites into very low altitude orbits, now makes attractive the use of DISCOS to
. carry out space missions of increasing capability and sophistication.
The geometric advantages of high altitude - even concerned with photographic observation of the
synchronous - satellites, particularly for communi- earth's surface, are flown at very low altitudes.
cations relay, are widely recognized. It is less well Primary contributions to the current knowledge of
recognized that there are frequently good reasons for the earth's gravity field were obtained by observation
orbiting satellites at altitudes as low as practicable. In of the motion of satellites at altitudes below about
this article we discuss the use and advantages of the 950 km. A still higher order of detail has been ob-
drag-free technique for substantially lowering the tained, at least over the ocean areas, by the use of
altitude of a satellite to the minimum that can be radar altimetry from Geos-3, a low altitude satellite.
considered practicable. I t is generally recognized that further progress in
determining the higher-order (short wavelength)
THE USE OF LOW ALTITUDE gravity field terms requires the observation of
satellites at the lowest practicable altitude. The
SATELLITES reason for this is that these higher order terms arise
There are two quite different reasons for using from inhomogeneities in density in or near the crust,
very low altitude satellites. One is to minimize launch and hence their gravitational effect on the satellite
costs; other things being equal, the lowest launch falls off with the inverse square of the satellite
costs result from the lowest practicable altitude. altitude. Similarly, improved magnetic field measure-
Phrased differently, with a given launch vehicle the ments require extremely low altitude orbits to
maximum satellite weight results from the choice of identify the presence of magnetic anomalies that are
the lowest practicable altitude. It was for this reason crustal in origin (e.g., from magnetic ore bodies).
that the early manned suborbital and orbital flights The recent short-lived Seasat showed that a wealth
were at very low altitudes. The same consideration of observational data concerning the ocean surface,
led to the choice of a very low altitude for Skylab. sea state, wind velocity, surface temperature, etc.
The Small Astronomy Satellites (SAS) were put in could be obtained from low altitude satellites.
very low orbits to maximize the weight launchable by Lowering the altitude of such a satellite improves the
the least costly launch vehicle - the Scout. These resolution of the instrument by increasing the signal
considerations will be even more compelling in the strength and reducing the footprint for a given power
future with Space Shuttle as the primary launch and antenna size.
vehicle. Shuttle is ideally suited to putting very large Direct observation or remote sampling of the
satellites into orbits up to about 320 km at a low cost atmosphere, whether for meteorological purposes,
per pound. High orbits achieved from Shuttle, no environmental monitoring (pollutants, ozone), or
matter how small the satellite, require additional atmospheric science, is clearly aided by the use of
upper stages, with a considerable increase in launch very low altitude satellites, opening up the possibility
costs. of in situ measurements in some cases. By measuring
The second reason for placing satellites in ex- along the line of sight between two very low altitude
tremely low orbits is that the observations to be made satellites in the same orbit but displaced in phase, the
by the satellites concern the earth's surface or things measurement can be brought down to sea level.
in close proximity to the earth's surface (e.g., the Finally the use of a phase-displaced pair of satellites
atmosphere or the earth's crust). Thus the Air opens up interesting possibilities for stereoscopic
Force's classified surveillance satellites, which are observation of clouds and surface features.
rJ T I~
practicable. Increasing the altitude to 150 km reduces
- 50
~-100 this temperature to the neighborhood of a relatively
comfortable 100°C, which is unquestionably practi-
o
t-150L----L----~----L---~----~----L---~
W 100.----.----.-----.----.----.-----.----.
cable. Thus the feasibility of a DISCOS is considered
for operation at the low altitude limits of 125 to 150
50 Slant-range results
km. From Figs. 7 and 8 it is seen that the propellant
0~~----------~~~~~----~~~~-4 weight (hydrazine) lies in the range of 200 to 1000 kg
-50 per month per square meter of satellite frontal cross
_100L----L----~-- __ L __ _~_ _ _ _~_ __ _L __ _~
- 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Elapsed time (days)
Assumptions: Surface em issivity = 0.8
Fig. 4- Tracking results from Triad satellite using DISCOS. Solar input = 0
done to make it clear that the ability to vary in a 100 125 150 175 200 225 250
A lt itude (km)
controlled manner the orbit spacing of two DISCOS-
type satellites is very useful in distinguishing gravit y Fig. 6-Effect of altitude on stagnation temperature.
terms of different wavelengths.
10~~--~----~----~----~----~----~
THE SHUTTLE AND LOW ALTITUDE
DISCOS 6
4
In the pre-Shuttle era, the use of DISCOS to make
possible a great reduction in the practicable altitude 2
of low altitude satellites was not considered, simply
because of the rather large propellant weights 1.0 r---~,_T_----------------------------___t
necessary to counteract the substantial drag forces
~ 0.6
and the corresponding very high launch costs with Solar maximum
available boosters. But Shuttle provides a totally ~ 0.4 Exospheric temperature (T e) = 1300K
.2 Drag coefficient (Cd) = 3.3
changed economic base. It is ideally suited to carry
large weights into low orbits economically. o
e 0.2
With DISCOS making possible accurate tracking at 0.1 ~----------->r---~------------------__i
any altitude, the lowest practicable altitude would
0.06
appear to be set by thermal considerations. Figure 6
0.04
Constant altitude
l _-a--& -- n-O,-- -,-; ~~-----~ - - ~ __ ,_ 0.02
~ 20 Shuttle payload.
w
~ 10r-------------------------~--------__4 CONCLUSION
a':
6 The Shuttle capability appears to open up the
4 possibility of orbiting DISCOS (drag-free) satellites
that can operate at extremely low altitudes (as low as
2 thermal considerations permit). Such satellites have
1~ ____~____~_____ L_ _ _ _~_ _ _ _ _ _L __ _~
many applications and can perform many scientific
100 150 200 250 missions. The possibilities appear sufficiently at-
Altitude (km) tractive to warrant a more detailed design and cost
Fig. 8-Propellant usage for satellites at very low
study would seem to be warranted so that this
altitude. specific alternative can be considered in future
mission planning.
r
~
1.0 m
·1·-6.0m~-
~ Folding boom
Fig. 9-Conceptual design of low altitude DISCOS satellite. Fig. 11-DISCOS on Shuttle pallet.