ON THE PERTURBED MOTION OF A LUNAR SATELLITE
Abstract
Pontecoulant's solution of the three-body problem of the lunar theory is briefly discussed and applied to the motion of a lunar satellite perturbed by the Earth in order to obtain an estimate of the changes caused in the radial coordinate. It was found that the maximum decrease in nominal perilunar radius r sub P depends on the ratio m of the angular velocities of the perturbing body and the satellite, and on an eccentricity parameter e in the combination 2em(1 + e) r sub P. For a satellite with an orbital period appro imately 1/15 that of the Moon, and an eccentricity parameter of 0.2, this decrease amounts to about 3 per cent of perilunar radius, which is not an appreciable amount. The additional perturbation caused by the sun was found to be of negligible magnitude. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0278709
Entities
People
- H.b. Schechter
Organizations
- RAND Corporation