How Does the Jacchia Model Predict Atmospheric Drag for Satellites in LEO?

[Astronuc]

The subject was part of a presentation today on orbital determination and orbital mechanics. Lots of variables to consider, but in particular for satellites in LEO, how much drag occurs in the atmosphere, and how does it vary peridically (day/night during an orbital period), seasonally (as the earth moves around the sun), and with the solar cycle?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacchia_Reference_Atmosphere

Original papers -
https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1964SAOSR.170.....J
https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1971saosr.332.....j

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19830012203/downloads/19830012203.pdf

https://ai-solutions.com/_help_Files/jacchia_roberts_density_model.htm

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/56163-jacchia-bowman-atmospheric-density-model
https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/54921-modified-jacchia-70

The Jacchia Reference Atmosphere is an atmospheric model that define values for atmospheric temperature, density, pressure and other properties at altitudes from 90 to 2500 km. Unlike the more common US Standard Atmosphere and related models, the Jacchia model includes latitudinal, seasonal, geomagnetic, and solar effects, but must be supplemented with another model at lower altitudes. The model, first published in 1970 and updated in 1971 and 1977, is based on spacecraft drag data, and is primarily used in spacecraft modeling and related fields. A common assumption while using the Jacchia Model is that the atmosphere rotates with the Earth as a rigid body.

Ref: Meysam Mahooti


https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1983CeMec..29....3D/abstract