UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Factors Affecting Orbits
•Satellite stability in
orbit is affected by many phenomena
–Initial launch errors
and irregularities
–Earth’s non-spherical
gravitation field
–Gravitational
attraction of other objects
–Radiation pressure
from the sun
–Particle flux from the
solar wind
–Lift and drag from
atmosphere (mainly p. o.)
–Interaction of
electrical currents in the Earth’s magnetic field
