Sounding the atmospheric density at the altitude of Lares and AJISAI during solar cycle 24

The passive spherical satellites LARES and Ajisai, placed in nearly circular orbits with mean geodetic altitudes between 1450 and 1500 km, were used, during Solar Cycle 24, as powerful tools to probe the neutral atmosphere density and the performances of six thermospheric models in orbital regimes for which the role of dominant atomic species is contended by hydrogen and helium, and accurate satellite measurements are scarce. The starting point of the analysis was the accurate determination of the secular semi-major axis decay rate, leading to the estimation of drag coefficients for each satellite, thermospheric model and solar activity condition. The associated components of the neutral drag acceleration in a satellite-centered orbital system were computed as well. Following the estimation of the physical drag coefficients for LARES and Ajisai, it was then possible to derive the mean density biases of the models. None of them could be considered unconditionally the best, the specific outcome depending on solar activity and on the regions of the atmosphere crossed by the satellites. During solar maximum conditions, an additional density bias linked to the satellite orbit inclination was detected.