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Satellite Orbital Parameters
Outline
Keplers Laws
Orbital Parameters
The Keplerian Element Set
Orbit Perturbations
1. Earths Oblateness
2. Equatorial Ellipticity
3. Atmospheric Drag
Keplers Laws
Satellites which orbit the
earth follow the same
laws that govern the
motion of the planets
around the sun.
Keplers first law states
that the path followed by
a satellite around the
primary will be an
ellipse.
Keplers second law
states that, for equal
time intervals, a
satellite will sweep out
equal areas in its
orbital plane, focused
at the barycenter.

Keplers third law states
that the square of the
periodic time of orbit is
proportional to the cube of
the mean distance between
the two bodies.
n is the mean motion of the
satellite in radians per second
is the earths geocentric
gravitational constant
The orbital period P in
seconds is given by:


Orbital Parameters
Subsatellite path The path traced
out on the earths surface directly
below the satellite.
Apogee The point farthest from
earth (apogee height

).
Perigee The point of closest
approach to earth (perigee height

).
Line of apsides The line joining the
perigee and apogee through the
center of the earth.
Ascending node The point where
the orbit crosses the equatorial
plane going from south to north.
Descending node The point where
the orbit crosses the equatorial
plane going from north to south.
Line of nodes The line joining the
ascending and descending nodes
through the center of the earth.
Inclination () The angle between
the orbital plane and the earths
equatorial plane.
Prograde orbit An orbit in which
the satellite moves in the same
direction as the earths rotation. The
prograde orbit is also known as a
direct orbit.
Retrograde orbit An orbit in which
the satellite moves in a direction
counter to the earths rotation.
Argument of perigee () The
angle from ascending node to
perigee, measured in the orbital
plane at the earths center, in the
direction of satellite motion.
Right ascension of the ascending
node () the angle measured
eastward, in the equatorial plane,
from the line to the ascending
node. The line extends from the
center of the earth to the point of
vernal equinox on its surface.
Mean anomaly Mean anomaly M
gives an average value of the
angular position of the satellite with
reference to the perigee.
0
is the
mean anomaly of the satellite at a
reference time known as the epoch.
True anomaly The true anomaly is
the angle from perigee to the
satellite position, measured at the
earths center.
The Keplerian Element Set
NASA Two-Line Elements
Six orbital elements: , ,
0
, , ,
Orbit Perturbations
1. Earths Oblateness
2. Equatorial Ellipticity
3. Atmospheric Drag
For near-earth satellites, the
effects of drag are significant.
The drag is greatest at the
perigee.
The result is that the semimajor
axis and eccentricity are both
reduced.
The mean anomaly is also
changed.
Changes resulting from the drag
will be significant for long time
intervals.
Sidereal day
and solar day
Timing diagram
Perifocal coordinate
system and satellite orbit
elements