Air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) allows for lowering the altitude of spacecraft
operations below 250 km, in the so-called Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEOs). Operations in …

Satellite drag modeling remains the largest source of uncertainty affecting space operations
in low Earth orbit. The uncertainty stems from inaccurate models for mass density and drag …

The operation of satellites in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) has been linked to a variety of
benefits to both the spacecraft platform and mission design. Critically, for Earth observation …

Abstract The Satellite for Orbital Aerodynamics Research (SOAR) is a 3U CubeSat mission
that aims to investigate the gas–surface interactions (GSIs) of different materials in the very …

This paper discusses the design and the performance achievable with active aerodynamic
attitude control in very low Earth orbit, ie, below 450 km in altitude. A novel real-time …

Accurate forecasts of thermosphere densities, realistic calculation of aerodynamic drag, and
propagation of the uncertainty on the predicted orbit positions are required for conjunction …

The growing interest in low earth orbit (LEO) applications demands for accurate modeling of
orbital aerodynamics. But classical analytical models of aerodynamic coefficients in free …

Aerodynamic collision avoidance manoeuvres provide an opportunity for satellites in Low
Earth Orbits to reduce the risk during close encounters. With rising numbers of satellites and …

In recent years, air-breathing electric propulsion emerged as a potential enabling
technology for long-duration space missions in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). In this work, we …

To achieve a feasible lifetime of several years, most satellites are deployed in orbits higher
than 400 km. Drag of residual atmosphere causes a slow orbit decay, resulting in the deorbit …