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Re: [Phys-l] ISS orbit


On 2011, Nov 15, , at 10:00, Anthony Lapinski wrote:

Thanks for this link -- very informative and detailed.

I guess what I'd like to know is a formula/relationship between air
altitude and density. For example, at what altitude is 99% of the air
below it? Can this somehow be measured, or only the effects from satellite
drag? And what minimum altitude must a satellite be to have no orbital
decay (like a geostationary orbit)?



Yes it is --


http://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/~zirbel/laboratories/Satellite.pdf

Includes the exponential decrease law and a verification.



bc wonders what the "air" speed is of the satellite in the original post