Relative Equilibria of a Satellite Moving in an Elliptic Orbit Subjected to Gravitational and Aerodynamic Torques

Abstract

Here we consider the attitude motion of a satellite, subjected to gravitational and aerodynamic torques in an elliptic orbit. The determination of orientation of equilibrium points has been discussed. It is found that they coincide with those for the circular case as studied by Sarychev and others in the works [1]-[3] and besides we have aimed at the sufficient condition for stability in the sense of Lyapunov.

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Ranjana, K. (2014) Relative Equilibria of a Satellite Moving in an Elliptic Orbit Subjected to Gravitational and Aerodynamic Torques. International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 4, 221-226. doi: 10.4236/ijaa.2014.41019.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Sarychev, V.A. (1965) Dynamics of a Satellite Gravitational Stabilization with Consideration of Atmospheric Resistance. Proceedings of the Eleventh International Congress of Applied Mechanics Munich (Germany), 1964, 429-435.
[2] Beletskii, V.V. (1966) Motion of an Artificial Satellite about Its Centre of Mass. NASA TTF-429.
[3] DeBra, D.B. (1959) The Effect of Aerodynamic Forces on Satellite Attitude. Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, 6, 40-45.
[4] Frik, M.A. (1970) Attitude Stability of Satellite Subjected to Gravity Gradient and Aerodynamic Torques. AIAA Journal, 8, 1780-1785. http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/3.5990
[5] Sarychev, V.A. and Mirer, S.A. (2000) Relative Equilibria Subjected to Gravitational and Aerodynamic Torques. Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, 76, 55-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:10 08389730047
[6] Sarychev, V.A., Mirer, S.A, Degtyarev, A.A. and Duarte, E.K. (2007) Investigation of Equilibria of a Satellite Subjected to Gravitational and Aerodynamic Torques. Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, 97, 267-287. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10569-006-9064-3
[7] Sarychev, V.A., Mirer, S.A. and Degtyarev, A.A. (2008) Equilibria of a Satellite Subjected to Gravitational and Aerodynamic Torques with Pressure Centre in a Principal Plane of Inertia. Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, 100, 301-318. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10569-008-9126-9

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