ON THE STABILITY OF MOTION OF ARTIFICIAL MOON SATELLITES (K VOPROSU OB USTOICHIVOSTI DVIZHENIYA ISKUSSTVENNYKH SPUTNIKOV LUNY),
Abstract
In the paper the motion of four lunar satellites is investigated by numerical integration with the object of elucidating the boundaries of stable motion. The interaction of the gravitational field of the moon with the gravitational field of the earth determines the existence of two spheres which are of direct interest from the point of view of the stability of motion of artificial moon satellites. The first sphere determines the region of space within which the moon's gravity is more powerful than the earth's gravity. The radius of this sphere is given by rho sub 1 = a sub 1 (m sub 2/m sub 1) to 1/2 power = 24.54 lunar radii, where m sub 1 and m sub 2 are the mass of the earth and moon respectively, and a sub 1 is the semi-major axis of the lunar orbit. In the paper the following numerical values have been assumed for these constants: m sub 2/m sub 1 = 1/81.375, a sub 1 = 384,400 Km. The second sphere is the moon's sphere of influence, and its radius is determined by the equation rho sub 2 = a sub 1 (m sub 2/m sub 1) to 2/5 power = 66200 Km = 38.10 lunar radii.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 07, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0614764
Entities
People
- G. A. Chebotarev
- S. N. Kirpichnikov
Organizations
- National Air and Space Intelligence Center