Effects of thermosphere total density perturbations on LEO orbits during severe geomagnetic conditions (Oct-Nov 2003) using DORIS and SLR data

As a result of both investigations, we compare the capability of recent models of thermosphere to allow us to get reliable geodetic products and mean orbital elements variations over short and long periods of time as well as for the recent exceptional geomagnetic events. Different altitudes are considered: around 800-900 km for the Stella and Starlette satellites tracked by laser ranging systems and SPOT tracked by DORIS; around also 1300-1400 km for the Ajisai satellite tracked by laser techniques and TOPEX and Jason also tracked by DORIS. It appears in our study that laser and DORIS data are complementary to probe the thermosphere, and to test the quality of thermosphere models in specific conditions for getting accurate geodetic products.