This paper presents a method for generating ballistic coefficient estimates usingtwo line elements (TLEs) and the High Accuracy Satellite Drag Model(HASDM). This method has been performed on eight satellites in different lowearth orbit (LEO) altitude regimes. The satellites were carefully chosen eitherbecause they are spherical, or because there has been significant work done inestimating either the ballistic coefficient or the drag coefficient. The results ofthis study indicate that the ballistic coefficients generated in altitude regionsbe-low 500 km using this method are on average within 10% of values obtainedusing other methods with some achieving less than 5%. However due tothe relative dominance of other factors (solar radiation pressure, Earth albedo,etc.) satellites tested in the 800 km to 1000 km regime incur errors muchgreater than 100%. This study also suggests the possibility that the HASDMdensity model overestimates density in the most recent solar minimum becausethe ballistic coefficient decreases with solar minimum.
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