Capabilities for Probing of Upper Atmosphere Density Variations and Seismic-Orbital Effects Using Small-Size Spacecraft

Abstract

The miniature spacecraft have a high ballistic coefficient, which is advantageous for the resolution of sensing the density  of  the  upper  atmosphere.  The  purpose  of  this  work  is  to  show  new  features of the "falling spheres method" based on the miniaturization of the Spacecraft. The "falling spheres method" is used to probe variations in the density of the upper atmosphere.A technical solution for diagnostics of orbital sections with abnormal changes in the speed and acceleration of  spacecraft  equipped  with  onboard  navigation  receivers  and  micro-accelerometers is considered.The technical result of the proposed development is the efficiency and cost – effectiveness of sounding variations in the density of the upper atmosphere, seismic-orbital effects-variations in the density of the atmosphere over earthquake-regions and the seismic hazard.