Abstract KS variables are an alternative and extended set of variables for describing the motion of a satellite. They originate in an idea of Levi-Civita for employing the theory of complex variables in three dimensional problems. KS variables turn out to be a generalized Spinor, are related to Quaternions, and have a deep meaning in mechanics. When used with the eccentric anomaly as the independent variable, the satellite motion is given as a regularized system of 10 first order ordinary differential equations. For orbit computation these variables have advantage in both numerical and analytical threatment. The energy equation becomes one of the equations and numerical methods are very stable. High eccentricity orbits are easily treated in both cases. With numerical methods, the step size variation is reduced. In analytical methods, expansion in powers of eccentricity is avoided.
Precision orbit computation in geodesy and geodynamics with KS variables
Advances in Space Research ; 6 , 9 ; 135-141
1986-01-01
7 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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