If a satellite is orbiting at 250 km altitude having mass m = 75,000 kg and having a cross sectional area of 350 m2, then what is the approximate value of satellite’s ballistic coefficient?

Perturbations topics include: Perturbations, third body perturbations, perturbations due to earth’s oblateness and atmospheric drag. A perturbation is a disturbance in the motion or orbit of a celestial body. Perturbations can affect the size, shape, or position of a heavenly body's orbit over long periods of time.  The study of perturbations began with the first attempts to predict planetary motions in the sky. Isaac Newton applied his laws of motion and of gravitation to the first analysis of perturbations.  Perturbations are variations in orbital parameters. For example, the Sun's... Show more

Perturbations topics include: Perturbations, third body perturbations, perturbations due to earth’s oblateness and atmospheric drag.

A perturbation is a disturbance in the motion or orbit of a celestial body. Perturbations can affect the size, shape, or position of a heavenly body's orbit over long periods of time.  The study of perturbations began with the first attempts to predict planetary motions in the sky. Isaac Newton applied his laws of motion and of gravitation to the first analysis of perturbations. 

Perturbations are variations in orbital parameters. For example, the Sun's acceleration of the Moon is slightly greater than its acceleration of Earth when the Moon is closer to the Sun than Earth. This difference in acceleration perturbs the Moon's motion. 

Perturbations can include:
The Earth's non-spherical mass distribution
Atmospheric drag
Third body attraction
Solar radiation 

Perturbations can cause orbit drifts and variations in geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar (GEO SAR). 
Perturbations can be categorized into secular and periodical components. 
 

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