Halo orbits in the vicinity of the L 2 libration point in the Sun-Earth system

Methods are proposed for constructing the orbits of spacecraft remaining for long periods of time in the vicinity of the L ₂ libration point in the Sun-Earth system (so-called halo orbits), and the trajectories of uncontrolled flights from low near-Earth orbits to halo orbits. Halo orbits and flight trajectories are constructed in two stages: A suitable solution to a circular restricted three-body problem is first constructed and then transformed into the solution for a restricted four-body problem in view of the real motions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. For a halo orbit, its prototype in the first stage is a combination of a periodic Lyapunov solution in the vicinity of the L ₂ point and lying in the plane of large-body motion, with the solution for the linear second-order system describing small deviations of the spacecraft from this plane along the periodic solution. The desired orbit is found as the solution to the three-body problem best approximating the prototype in the mean square. The constructed orbit serves as a similar prototype in the second stage. In both stages, the approximating solution is constructed by continuation along a parameter that is the length of the approximation interval. Flight trajectories are constructed in a similar manner. The prototype orbit in the first stage is a combination of a solution lying in the plane of large-body motion and a solution for a linear second-order system describing small deviations of the spacecraft from this plane. The planar solution begins near the Earth and over time tends toward the Lyapunov solution existing in the vicinity of the L ₂ point. The initial conditions of both prototypes and the approximating solutions correspond to the spacecraft’s departure from a low near-Earth orbit at a given distance, perigee, and inclination.     

Investigation of the Time of Ballistic Existence for Elliptic Orbits Evolving under the Influence of Gravitational Perturbations of External Bodies

A comparative analysis of the time of ballistic existence for different elliptic orbits evolving under the influence of gravitational perturbations of external bodies is performed. For this purpose, the solution of a satellite variant of the restricted circular double-averaged three-body problem obtained by M.L. Lidov [1] is used. The use of a geometrical interpretation of Lidov's solutions has allowed us to create a visualized tool for a choice of evolving satellite orbits with a long time of ballistic existence.     

Control of satellite imaging formations in multi-body regimes

Libration point orbits may be ideal locations for satellite imaging formations. Therefore, control of these arrays in multi-body regimes is critical. A continuous feedback control algorithm is developed that maintains a formation of satellites in motion that is bounded relative to a halo orbit. This algorithm is derived based on the dynamic characteristics of the phase space near periodic orbits in the circular restricted three-body problem (CR3BP). By adjusting parameters of the control algorithm appropriately, satellites in the formation follow trajectories that are particularly advantageous to imaging arrays. Image reconstruction and coverage of the (u, v) plane are simulated for interferometric satellite configurations, demonstrating potential applications of the algorithm and the resulting motion.     

基于三阶解析解的小行星平衡点附近halo轨道确定方法研究

尽管周期解的存在性已经被证明,但要在给定的动力学系统中寻找到满足一定精度要求的周期解依然是一件极富挑战性的工作.提出如下方法确定小行星平衡点附近精确的周期轨道(halo轨道).首先扩展运动方程:将小行星平衡点附近轨道运动方程的右端项在平衡点处展成三阶幂级数.从而将非线性运动学方程扩展为拟线性微分方程.然后求近似解析解:应用Lindstedt-Poincaré方法求解扩展后的运动方程组,将周期解和其运动频率展开成三阶幂级数,并将二者代人扩展后的拟线性微分方程中.这样就可以得到三个不同阶的线性运动方程,逐次求解三个微分方程并消除解中的永年项即可得到hal.轨道的三阶解析解.最后微分校正:将周期轨道在三阶解析解附近线性化,得到状态转移矩阵,并使用状态转移矩阵和轨道终端状态的偏差修正轨道初值,从而得到满足精度要求的精确引力场中的halo轨道.     

圆型限制性三体问题相对运动解析研究

针对圆型限制性三体问题共线平动点附近周期/拟周期轨道下的相对运动问题,提出一种新的、通用的解析研究方法。在周期/拟周期轨道近似解析解的基础上,结合微分修正方法,获得了精确的周期/拟周期轨道。对周期/拟周期轨道的单值矩阵进行分析,同时借鉴Floquet理论核心思想,建立了六个相对运动模态,并将相对运动表示为六个相对运动模态的线性组合,获得了相对运动的近似解析解。最后在地-月系统圆型限制性三体问题下,以L1点作为研究对象,分别以Halo轨道、Lissajous轨道和Lyapunov轨道为参考轨道,对相对运动模态和相对运动进行仿真分析,说明了相对运动模态的正确性以及相对运动近似解析解的有效性。     

Periodic solutions in three-dimensional restricted three-body problem: 2. Loss of symmetry at the 1:1 resonance

Within the framework of the circular restricted three-body problem a family of inverse periodic orbits around the two attracting bodies (the Egorov’s family) and families generated by it at the 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 resonances for three-dimensional orbits in the Sun-Earth and Earth-Moon systems are considered. Their relationship with families generated by orbits around the libration points L ₁, L ₂ and L ₃ is investigated. One of the families contains periodic solutions that seem promising as possible orbits for the space radio telescope of the Millimetron project.     

Radial velocity search for low mass companions of nearby stars

The detection of substellar companions of nearby stars is very difficult, because these objects are very faint and are located close to their bright parent stars. One way to attack this problem is to look for small periodic motion of the bright star, induced by the gravitational attraction exerted by the unseen small companion. Over the past decade stellar spectroscopy has been used by a few teams to monitor the radial velocities of several samples of stars, with a threshold for detection of companions well below the substellar limit of about 0.08 M. So far, only a few possible spectroscopic binaries have been identified where the unseen companions might be substellar.Recently, radio observers discovered that the millisecond pulsar PSR B1257+12 displays periodic variations in the pulse arrival times, indicating the existence of at least three unseen companions in circular orbits around the pulsar. This is the first convincing case for an extra-solar planetary system. This discovery suggests that planetary systems can form in very different situations, and therefore may prove to be common.     

地-月系平动点及Halo轨道的应用研究

地-月系统的平动点L1点及L2点的Halo轨道在探月工程中有重要的应用价值，可分别用于地月连续通信覆盖和月球背面的探测。由于在地-月系统中太阳的引力不可忽略，特别是在长时间作用以后，其动力学行为与摄动力较小的日-地系统有明显的不同。本文分析了如何利用太阳引力进入地-月系统的L1点及L2点的Halo轨道、以及由Halo轨道进入近月轨道的问题，两者综合起来构成了一条完整的地月低能转移轨道。研究结果对探月轨道设计有一定的参考价值。     

Solar sail formation flying on an inclined Earth orbit

The versatility of solar sail propulsion can be utilized in the exploration of Earth’s magnetotail. An inclined periodic orbit with respect to ecliptic is possible for a solar sail with its orbital plane in synchronous rotation with the sun. Solar sail evolving on such an inclined orbit is free of Earth shadow. Formation flying of a cluster of sails around such an inclined periodic orbit is investigated in this paper. The solution of the first-order approximation to the linear relative motion is used to qualitatively analyze the configurations of relative orbits. Since the relative motion is unstable, active control is necessary to keep a periodic relative motion. A typical LQR method is employed to stabilize the relative motion. The design method is validated by numerical examples.     

Gravitation Maneuver Using the Families of Super-Unstable Orbits around the Libration Points

The families of periodic solutions to an autonomous Hamiltonian system in that part where the solutions are unstable have their specific field of influence. Under strong instability, the orbits that have fallen in such a field of influence are drawn into the family as in a whirlpool and then are thrown away from it. In the particular case of the restricted three-body problem, the orbits around the libration points L ₁ and L ₂ are super-unstable and the Keplerian elements in motion over these orbits change drastically. When the orbits fall into such a domain, for some time the motion is close to the motion around the libration point, and after being thrown out of this domain, the Keplerian orbital elements also change essentially.     

访问多个特定相对位置的航天器轨道设计

在航天器轨道设计问题中,将惯性空间中经典的吉布斯三矢量定轨方法拓展到相对运动空间中,给出了一种相对运动条件下的三矢量定轨方法。针对已知轨道的目标航天器,以及二个或三个给定的空间相对位置,基于相对运动方程,提出了设计跟随航天器飞行轨道的数值方法。以轨道面共面或异面,以及目标航天器轨道形状为椭圆或圆,将问题分为四种情况进行约束条件和自由变量个数的分析讨论。对于自由变量个数多于约束方程的情况,额外给定周期重访约束,将各种情况下的特定相对位置访问问题转化为一至二维的非线性方程(组)求解问题。对一维方程求解采用分段黄金分割+割线法进行快速求解;对二维方程组通过网格法搜索迭代初值并通过牛顿迭代快速求解。进一步基于线性模型的解,采用微分修正方法求解了各情况下J2摄动模型下的结果。数值算例验证了提出方法的正确性及有效性。     

Stable spatial orbits around collinear libration points

A technique of generation of spatial periodic solutions to the restricted circular three-body problem from periodic orbits of the planar problem has been used for the families of orbits around collinear libration points L ₁ and L ₂. Developing the families obtained at the 1: 1 resonance, we have obtained stable solutions both in the Earth-Moon system and in the Sun-Earth system. Of course, the term “around the libration point” is rather conventional; the obtained orbits become more similar to the orbits around the smaller attracting body. The further development of the family of orbits “around” the libration point L ₂ in the Sun-Earth system made it possible to find the orbits satisfying the new, much more rigorous constraints on cooling the spacecraft of the Millimetron project.     

飞行器围绕小行星的轨道运动

分析了飞行器围绕小行星轨道运动的特点，介绍了所建立的表述这一问题的理论基础。采用三种不同方法从几个侧面揭示了这一问题的本质特征。给出了所完成的研究这一问题的进展、结果和相互联系，其中包括轨道摄动、共振运动和周期轨道运动。这一问题的核心和难点是轨道的稳定性问题。     

基于序优化理论的晕轨道转移轨道设计

利用晕轨道的稳定流形可以设计从地球到晕轨道的转移轨道。但由于小幅度晕轨道的稳 定流形与地球停泊轨道无法相交,因此需采用两脉冲转移。微分修正法是求解两脉冲转移常 用的优化方法,虽然收敛速度快,但很难获取全局最优解,而且收敛半径小,如果初始猜想 与最优解相差很远,该方法可能会不收敛。将序优化理论与微分修正法相结合,利用序优化 思想缩小搜索空间,得到足够好的初始猜想,然后利用微分修正法快速收敛到满足终端精度 要求的解。仿真结果表明该方法有很好的收敛性,且计算量小。
     

Families of periodic solutions in three-dimensional restricted three-body problem

Planar orbits of three-dimensional restricted circular three-body problem are considered as a special case of three-dimensional orbits, and the second-order monodromy matrices M (in coordinate z and velocity v _z ) are calculated for them. Semi-trace s of matrix M determines vertical stability of an orbit. If |s| ≤ 1, then transformation of the subspace (z, v _z ) in the neighborhood of solution for the period is reduced to deformation and a rotation through angle φ, cosφ = s. If the angle ? can be rationally expressed through 2π,φ = 2π·p/q, where p and q are integer, then a planar orbit generates the families of three-dimensional periodic solutions that have a period larger by a factor of q (second kind Poincareé periodic solutions). Directions of continuation in the subspace (z, v _z ) are determined by matrix M. If |s| < 1, we have two new families, while only one exists at resonances 1: 1 (s = 1) and 2: 1 (s = ?1). In the course of motion along the family of three-dimensional periodic solutions, a transition is possible from one family of planar solutions to another one, sometimes previously unknown family of planar solutions.     

Hydrodynamic Analogy for the Solution to the Doubly Averaged Hill Problem Disturbed by Precession of the Orbit Plane of a Disturbing Body

A hydrodynamic analogy for the solution to a satellite version of the restricted three-body problem is considered with allowance made for precession of the disturbing body orbit. Applying, in the first approximation, the analytical solution to a doubly averaged equation system obtained in 1961 by M.L. Lidov, we consider the precession of the disturbing body orbit as some disturbing factor. The appropriate model enables us to describe the general pattern of integral curves in the entire area of their existence as a picture of flow lines of the potential motion of some fictitious homogeneous incompressible fluid. For the synthesis of an adequate mathematical model, a method similar to the Pade approximation is used. The obtained model and its discrete continual analog allow us to present, in a pictorial form, the disturbance of orbits under the effect of precession of the disturbing body orbit.     

General dynamics in the Restricted Full Three Body Problem

The problem of a binary system and a spacecraft in its gravity field is studied. As the mass distribution of the bodies is considered, the two problems are referred as the Full Two Body Problem (F2BP) and the Restricted Full Three Body Problem (RF3BP), respectively. The conditions for relative equilibria and their stability in the F2BP were derived for an ellipsoid–sphere system. As the non-equilibrium problem is more common in nature, we look at periodic orbits in the F2BP close to the relative equilibrium conditions. It is found that families of periodic orbits can be computed where the minimum energy state of one family is the relative equilibrium state. An approximation method was derived in order to facilitate the computation of periodic orbits near relative equilibria while keeping the interesting dynamical features. The next step is to make the connection between the dynamics of the RF3BP and the F2BP. In the current paper, we solve for the dynamics of the F2BP and substitute this model in the RF3BP. We provide a basic investigation of the dynamics of a particle in the gravitational field of this binary system. We show results in the F2BP and the RF3BP.     

Parametric excitation of gyroscopic waves in Thomson-Delaney cells of the ocean of Jovian moon Europa

A possible mechanism (of parametric resonance type) of excitation of planetary gyroscopic waves in Thomson-Delaney cells of the ocean of Jovian moon Europa is considered. It is assumed that the basis of this mechanism is a variation of liquid depth in a cell caused by tidal oscillations under the action of gravitational perturbing influence of Galilean satellites of Jupiter. Such a model leads to a system of linear differential equations with periodic coefficients of the Hill’s type. Under some additional assumptions it changes over into a system of independent Mathieu equations. The regions of parametric resonance of this system are constructed.     

解析计算在月球中继卫星Halo轨道设计中的应用

面向月球中继卫星工程轨道设计需求,研究解析计算方法在地月系L2点halo轨道设计中的应用问题。在讨论圆型限制性三体问题三阶解析近似计算方法的基础上,分析了解析计算与数值计算的差异,给出了解析近似计算在工程约束下的适用范围,进而提出了基于解析计算的轨道设计和特征筛选方法。分别采用解析初值和数值初值进行halo轨道外推,比对验证采用解析计算设计轨道的可行性。研究结果表明,解析计算方法适用于月球中继卫星轨道的初步设计、特征分析和构型筛选。     

Revisiting the general periodic relative motion in elliptic reference orbits

A general periodicity condition is presented by analyzing the relative motion between two spacecraft performing formation flight in Keplerian elliptic orbits. The Tschauner–Hempel equation is used to describe the relative motion, and the general periodicity condition is derived through a state transition matrix with a true anomaly as a free variable. The general periodicity condition is also derived by using the energy matching condition, and the resulting periodic conditions by two approaches are compared to each other. Moreover, the zero offset condition is presented to locate the leader spacecraft at the center of the formation geometry. Then, the periodic relative motion in the elliptic reference orbit is expressed using the periodicity condition and the zero offset condition. Numerical simulations demonstrate the periodic relative motion in the elliptic reference orbit, and the results show that the general periodicity condition guarantees the bounded periodic relative motion in arbitrary elliptic orbits, and the zero offset condition makes the formation center coincide with the leader spacecraft.