Abstract
The effect of the motion of the upper atmosphere on satellite orbits of small eccentricity,
e
< 0.2, is considered. The atmospheric model allows for oblateness, and has a density profile that approximates to the observed day-to-night variation. The equations governing the changes due to zonal (west-to-east) and meridional (south-to-north) winds in the right ascension of the ascending node of the orbital plane
Ω
during one anomalistic period of the satellite are integrated, assuming that
H
, the density scale-height, is constant. The resulting expressions for ∆
Ω
ω
, due to zonal winds, and ∆
Ω
Φ
, due to meridional winds, are given. It is shown that there can be appreciable changes in ∆
Ω
/∆
T
D
, where ∆
T
D
is the corresponding change in orbital period, that persist for several months for certain resonant orbits if the diurnal variation in density is allowed for. Compact expressions for ∆
Ω
and ∆
Ω
/∆
T
D
are given when
H
varies linearly with height. It is demonstrated that in general there is no constant value of
H
that gives an exact equivalence between the variable-
H
and constant-
H
equations in the presence of a diurnal density variation.
Cited by
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