[amsat-bb] CAMSATs projected life span?

[Paul Stoetzer]

I also put the others into the calculator using the same orbital elements.

XW-2A = 0.008 m^2 / kg = 8.515 years
XW-2B/2C/2D = 0.006944 m^2 / kg = 9.183 years
LilacSat-2 = 0.00363636 m^2 / kg = 18.229 years

73,

Paul, N8HM

On Tue, Sep 22, 2015 at 9:12 AM, Paul Stoetzer <n8hm at arrl.net> wrote:
> 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
>>
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