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In general estimated constant drag coefficient is used for the dynamic modeling of satellites in an orbit. This causes uncertainties in the prediction of satellite orbital perturbations. In the past few decades, seldom requirement is being observed in the precise determination of the drag coefficient of spacecraft. It was justified because of lack in the experimental validation of the theory. However, with the advancement on new atmospheric models of enhanced accuracy have abled a better classification of the drag force. The standard fluid dynamics computational techniques based on Navier-Stokes equations and empirical codes for aerodynamic computations are valid only in the continuum region. For altitudes more than ~ 120 km, the atmosphere is rarefied and the transport terms in the Navier-Stokes equations of continuum gas dynamics fail due to insufficient collision between the molecules. This happens when gradients of the macroscopic variables become so steep that their scale length is of the same order as the average distance travelled by the molecules between collisions, or mean free path. To accurately predict the aerodynamic characteristic of satellites flying at such higher altitudes, the available numerical techniques are discussed and presented in detail. The results computed based on these models are compared with the DS2V code by GA Bird. In order to see the effect of drag coefficient with different velocities and altitudes, simulations have also been done for a satellite in low earth orbit initially at 300 km altitude.

Abdul Majid, Muhammad Naeem Owais, Muhammad Nauman Qureshi. (2018) Aerodynamic Drag Computation of Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites, Journal of Space Technology , Volume 8, Issue 1.
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