Analytically-derived Aerodynamic Force Moment Coefficients of Resident Space Objects in Free-Molecular Flow
Author(s)
Hart, Kenneth A.
Dutta, Soumyo
Simonis, Kyle R.
Steinfeldt, Bradley A.
Braun, Robert D.
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Abstract
Fast, high-fidelity trajectory propagation of objects in near-Earth orbits is a key capability for space situational awareness and mitigating probability of collisions on orbit. This
high-fidelity analysis requires accurate aerodynamics prediction for objects in the free-
molecular regime of flight, but most tools for aerodynamic prediction for this regime either
are found using assumptions or are computationally intensive. Symbolic manipulation
software can be used to analytically integrate expressions for pressure and shear pressure
coefficients acting on a general body in free-molecular regime to derive aerodynamic force
and moment expressions. The analytical aerodynamics prediction method is described and
relations have been developed for the sphere, cylinder, panel, and rectangular prism. The
NASA-developed Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Analysis Code is used to validate the analytical expressions and it is shown that expressions are accurate within 0.38%. These generalized analytic expressions in terms of angle of attack, sideslip angle, freestream conditions,
wall temperature, and accommodation coefficients allow near-instantaneous computation
of the rarefied aerodynamics and enables space situation awareness analysis.
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Date
2014-01
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