Variations of the thermal accommodation coefficient from the analysis of the atmospheric lift effects on the satellite 1974-70 A

Abstract

The changes of the orbital inclination of the satellite 1974-70 A show some peculiarities which cannot be explained by the usual disturbing effects (odd zonal harmonics, lunisolar perturbations, rotation of the atmosphere). The effect of a lift force normal to the orbital plane explains the residual inclination variations if a changing value of the thermal accommodation coefficient is introduced. The theory agrees well with the observations if the coefficient rises from a low value (∼0.1) corresponding to a quasi-specular reflection of the molecules incident to the satellite surface to higher values (>0.9) characterizing a diffuse reflection.