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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.24575 |
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| _version_ | 1866914596429758464 |
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| author | Barbis, Cassandra Daquin, Jerome Alessi, Elisa Maria Skokos, Charalampos |
| author_facet | Barbis, Cassandra Daquin, Jerome Alessi, Elisa Maria Skokos, Charalampos |
| contents | We investigate the long-term dynamical structure of low Earth orbits (LEOs) using the Smaller Alignment Index (SALI), a fast numerical indicator of chaos, within a closed-form averaged model that incorporates the effects of solar radiation pressure and Earth's oblateness. Our analysis reveals that the area-to-mass ratio is a key parameter governing the onset and extent of chaotic behavior in LEOs. We map the system's chaotic regions, study the behavior of reentry trajectories and characterize their temporal laws over a timescale constrained by the $25$-year mitigation guideline. Within this physically relevant timescale, we show that most of the reentry trajectories exhibit regular motion. Reentry basins, constructed according to different mitigation guidelines up to $25$ years, display fractal-like structures for less-stringent guidelines. The degree of this fractality is quantitatively assessed using the uncertainty exponent method. In most cases, for large area-to-mass ratios, reentry occurs on relatively short timescales (a few years) - short enough that no fractal behavior is observed in the basin boundaries. This numerical dynamical study offers insights into the development of dynamically informed deorbiting strategies. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_24575 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Regularity and reentry basins of low Earth orbits in the $J_{2}$-solar radiation pressure problem Barbis, Cassandra Daquin, Jerome Alessi, Elisa Maria Skokos, Charalampos Chaotic Dynamics We investigate the long-term dynamical structure of low Earth orbits (LEOs) using the Smaller Alignment Index (SALI), a fast numerical indicator of chaos, within a closed-form averaged model that incorporates the effects of solar radiation pressure and Earth's oblateness. Our analysis reveals that the area-to-mass ratio is a key parameter governing the onset and extent of chaotic behavior in LEOs. We map the system's chaotic regions, study the behavior of reentry trajectories and characterize their temporal laws over a timescale constrained by the $25$-year mitigation guideline. Within this physically relevant timescale, we show that most of the reentry trajectories exhibit regular motion. Reentry basins, constructed according to different mitigation guidelines up to $25$ years, display fractal-like structures for less-stringent guidelines. The degree of this fractality is quantitatively assessed using the uncertainty exponent method. In most cases, for large area-to-mass ratios, reentry occurs on relatively short timescales (a few years) - short enough that no fractal behavior is observed in the basin boundaries. This numerical dynamical study offers insights into the development of dynamically informed deorbiting strategies. |
| title | Regularity and reentry basins of low Earth orbits in the $J_{2}$-solar radiation pressure problem |
| topic | Chaotic Dynamics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.24575 |