Three Dimensional Orbital Stability About the Earth-Moon Equilateral Libration Points.

Abstract

A search for a stable three dimensional orbit for a satellite about L4 is performed. A proposed two dimensional very restricted orbit is used to supply the initial conditions required for the search. An ephemeris of high accuracy is generated from a specific date and time using actual positions for the sun and moon. The generated sun and moon position and velocity vectors are used in the integration of the system's equations of motion. A stable orbit is found and is tested for its length of stability. The orbit is found to have a stable lifetime in excess of six hundred lunar synodic months. The sensitivity of the orbit to the sun's and moon's position is tested and found to be only slightly sensitive for an error in position of one quarter day. Finally, a predicted 180 deg out of phase orbit is found and is determined to be only marginally stable.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1980
Accession Number
ADA094773

Entities

People

  • Howard A. Tilton

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Cartesian Coordinates
  • Circular Orbits
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Ephemerides
  • Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Errors
  • Facial Bones
  • Orbits
  • Sensitivity
  • Solar System
  • Spacecraft
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris