Solar radiation pressure resonances in Low Earth Orbits

The aim of this work is to highlight the crucial role that orbital resonances associated withsolar radiation pressure can have in Low Earth Orbit. We review the corresponding literature,and provide an analytical tool to estimate the maximum eccentricity which can be achievedfor well-defined initial conditions. We then compare the results obtained with the simplifiedmodel with the results obtained with a more comprehensive dynamical model. The analysishas important implications both from a theoretical point of view, because it shows that the roleof some resonances was underestimated in the past, and also from a practical point of view inthe perspective of passive deorbiting solutions for satellites at the end-of-life.