Modelling and Simulation of Very Low Earth Orbits

Flying a satellite at very low earth orbit is a technological challenge. It presents advantages, such as increase resolution in optical payloads, reduce costs of launch and enhance the use of air breathing propulsion and specular materials. The density of the atmosphere at these altitudes is much higher, behaving as a free molecular flow. This has severe implications in the increase of drag torques and forces that has to be analyzed in depth. We analyze the effects and the perturbations to small satellites, affecting their dynamics, performance and lifetime by implementing and analyzing realistic models of the environment at VLEO.