Progress in Atmospheric Density Inversion Based on LEO Satellites and Preliminary Experiments for SWARM-A

The vigorous development of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation programs imposes higher requirements for the accuracy of satellite orbit determination. Significant variations in atmospheric density within the operational region of LEO satellites are primary factors influencing their orbital decay and operational lifespan. This article first summarizes the research advancements in atmospheric density inversion utilizing LEO satellites, comparing and analyzing the principles of various algorithms, factors affecting accuracy, as well as the advantages and disadvantages associated with different acquisition methods. Subsequently, we introduce recent progress in enhancing atmospheric density inversion algorithms and data analysis applications based on LEO satellites. The SWARM-A satellite, equipped with a high-precision GPS receiver and accelerometer, was employed to invert atmospheric density using both semi-long axis attenuation and accelerometer methodologies. The inversion results were compared against empirical models to validate their reliability; specifically, the correlation coefficient between the semi-long axis attenuation method and nrlmsise00 reached 0.9158, while that between the accelerometer method and nrlmsise00 attained 0.9204. Notably, the inversion accuracy achieved by the accelerometer slightly surpasses that of the semi-long axis attenuation method. These findings provide valuable support for predicting large air tightness based on LEO satellite orbit data inversions and for adjusting operational orbits to ensure successful execution of satellite missions.