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Definition

Ballistic Coefficient

A measure of how an object's mass and shape resist atmospheric drag, calculated as mass divided by (drag coefficient times area). Higher values mean lower drag deceleration.

Related terms

Bus

The structural and functional core of a spacecraft that houses and supports the payload and all subsystems. Includes pow...

Budget (Mass/Power/Link)

An accounting of resource allocation across spacecraft subsystems with margins. Mass budgets track weight, power budgets...

J2 Perturbation

The dominant orbital perturbation caused by Earth's equatorial bulge (oblateness). Causes secular drift in RAAN and argu...

Orbital Decay

The gradual reduction of orbital altitude due to atmospheric drag. Severity depends on solar activity, ballistic coeffic...

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