[amsat-bb] CAMSATs projected life span?

[Paul Stoetzer]

Let's see if I can get the calculations right for XW-2E and XW-2F
using NASA's Debris Assessment Software 2.0 software (Available here:
http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/mitigate/das.html) and the latest
solar flux data file from January 14, 2015.

The orbit parameters from the latest CelesTrak elements are:

Perigee: 528 km
Apogee: 551 km
Inclination: 97.4577 degrees
R. A. of the Ascending Node: 272.9393 degrees
Argument of Perigee: 247.5115 degrees

Now to calculate the Area to Mass ratio (we'll have to ignore the
antennas here).

The XW-2E and XW-2F dimensions provided by CAMSAT are:

Dimensions: 110Lx110Wx110H mm
Mass: 1.5kg

The cross sectional surface area of a cube is simply the area of one
of the sides: 110x110 mm = 12100 mm^2 or 0.0121 m^2.

0.0121 m^2 / 1.5 kg = Area to Mass ratio of 0.008067 m^2 / kg

DAS 2.0 shows a calculated orbit lifetime of 8.487 years with those parameters.

Anyone care to correct any of this (or do the calculations for the
other satellites) ? I am very much an amateur :)

73,

Paul, N8HM

On Tue, Sep 22, 2015 at 8:48 AM, Red Willoughby <red at redwilloughby.com> wrote:
> Any estimates on how long the CAMSATs may be in orbit?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Red
> KC4LE
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb