The application of general perturbation theories to the artificial satellite problem Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Developed in this paper is a unified approach for combining the efficient but not so accurate non-Keplerian reference orbits obtained from general perturbation theories with the accurate but less efficient numerical integration method of orbit prediction. Two methods are developed. In the first, an Encke-type method, the dependent variables are the difference between the orbital elements of the analytic theory and those of the osculating Keplerian orbit. In the second, a variation of parameters method, the dependent variables are the difference between the orbital elements of the osculating non-Keplerian orbit and the same set of elements of the analytic theory. Numerical comparison between the two methods and with the Cowell method are made for three types of orbits; the ATS-F which is synchronous, AE-C, an atmospheric drag perturbed orbit and GEOS-C, a resonant orbit. The regularized time dt = (rn) ds is used in the numerical integration and the optimum value of n is found for each orbit. 1975.

published proceedings

  • Acta Astronautica

author list (cited authors)

  • Alfriend, K. T., & Velez, C. E.

citation count

  • 0

complete list of authors

  • Alfriend, KT||Velez, CE

publication date

  • July 1975