Giovanni MEDICI, Jaime GUTIERREZ BRICEÑO, Mariola ZARCO DE GRACIA, Sara RODRIGUEZ MARINAS, Sergio MORENO AGUADO
DOI Number: N/A
Conference number: HiSST-2025-166
Aerodynamic drag remains a dominant source of uncertainty in satellite design for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), where rarefied gas dynamics and gas-surface interactions critically influence performance, lifetime, and mission planning. This work presents a modular, parametric, multi-fidelity analysis framework for quantifying drag sensitivity using a Radial Basis Function (RBF) surrogate model. The methodology is integrated into ESAT (EDL Sizing and Analysis Tool), combining automated geometry generation, simplified and high-fidelity aerodynamic solvers including DRIA or sparta DSMC, and atmospheric models ranging from USSA1976 to NRLMSISE-00, 2.0, or 2.1. The analysis accounts for geometric, aerodynamic, and environmental parameters, capturing the effect of orbital variability (e.g., latitude, solar activity) on drag. Figures of merit such as
internal volume, surface areas, and inlet/outlet ratios are easily computed and monitored, and uncertainty in thermospheric properties is explicitly addressed through Monte Carlo simulations. The framework’s modularity enables rapid trade studies across configurations and environments, with relevance for VLEO platforms operating in transitional and free molecular regimes. An application case based on a flat-panel, high aspect-ratio satellite illustrates the method’s capability to guide early design decisions, including demisability and subsystem layout strategies. This approach supports the need for robust, design-time aerodynamic estimation tools for high-speed vehicles operating in the upper atmosphere, bridging engineering design and rarefied gas dynamics.