AEROSPACE CHINA

中国航天科技集团有限公司主管

中国航天系统科学与工程研究院主办

ISSN 1671-0940

CN 11-4673/V

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AEROSPACE CHINA ›› 2021, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (4): 35-41.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-0940.2021.04.005

• 学术研究 • 上一篇    下一篇

Predict Aerodynamic Drag of Spacecraft in Very Low Earth Orbit Using Different Gas-Surface Interaction Models

  

  • 出版日期:2022-04-13 发布日期:2022-04-13

Predict Aerodynamic Drag of Spacecraft in Very Low Earth Orbit Using Different Gas-Surface Interaction Models

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  1. 1 China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, Beijing 100074
    2 School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084
  • Online:2022-04-13 Published:2022-04-13
  • About author:JIN Xuhong (1988− ), senior engineer at China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics. He received his Ph.D degree from Tsinghua University. He is mainly engaged in rarefied gas flows, hypersonic flows, and satellite aerodynamics. HUANG Fei (1982− ), research fellow at China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics. He received his Master of Science degree from China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics. His research interests lie in rarefied gas flow and DSMC method.

Abstract: The accurate prediction for aerodynamic drag of spacecraft in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) is a fundamental prerequisite for aerospace missions in VLEO. The present work calculates aerodynamic drag of the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite using the test particle Monte Carlo (TPMC) method. The primary goal is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of surface pressure and skin friction on the spacecraft surface and assess the sensitivity of aerodynamic drag to the gas-surface interaction (GSI) models. Results indicate that surface pressure is mainly distributed on the front of the satellite body and panels while skin friction is primarily distributed on the sides. In addition, as the GSI model changes from diffuse to specular reflection, the total drag coefficient is reduced at operation altitudes above 170 km. Therefore, the satellite surface should be processed so carefully that the GSI remains far from diffuse reflection from the view point of the drag-reduce design.

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