Evolution of the orbit of a passive fragment with a large area of surface in high Earth orbit

We have analysed and presented observations of artificial celestial body 43096. We obtained the observations in 2006–2012 within the project “Scientific Network of Optic Instruments for Astrometric and Photometric Observations” (ISON). We have determined the Kepler orbit elements and state vector as of 1 hour 55 minutes 50,76 seconds, November 24, 2006 UTC (1:55:50,76 November 24,2006 UTC). We have performed numerical integration of the motion equations, taking into account the perturbations from the polar compression of the Earth, the Moon, the Sun and the solar radiation pressure. We propose a method for deorbiting artificial celestial bodies in high altitude orbits. The method is based on a numerical model of motion in circumterrestrial space, which takes into account only the largest perturbations. For the first time ever we have obtained such a great amount of data on objects with a large area of surface to mass ratio over long time spans. The data allowed us to study the objects and reveal their peculiar properties.