A method for a computing satellite orbits perturbed by third-body attractions is described. The method extends Stumpff's previous approach in order to account for those cases in which satellite orbits approach so close to the Earth that the influences of the oblateness and atmosphere of the Earth cannot be neglected. The method was tested by comparing actual with predicted orbits for Explorer 28 and was found to yield accurate predictions for all but the final 130 days of the satellite's three year life span. It was also used to study the effects of earth and solar attraction on lunar satellite orbits. A relation was found between orbit direction and perturbation magnitude, such that the chance of impact on the moon or escape from the lunar region was greater for satellites in direct rather than retrograde orbits, especially when these orbits were at altitudes greater than 30,000 km.


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    Title :

    A Semi-Analytical Method for Computing Third-Body Effects on Earth and Lunar Satellite Orbits


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1977


    Size :

    43 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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