Parametric Linear Stability Analysis of Tethered System Dynamics in Keplerian Orbits
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5540/03.2025.011.01.0456Keywords:
Stability, tether system, dumbbell dynamics, Deprit-Hori method, orbital debrisAbstract
The objective of this study is to analyze the dynamics of a tether system comprised of two point masses interconnected by a cable (Space Tethers), orbiting a Newtonian center of attraction in a Keplerian orbit without external forces. Through reductions in the equations of motion, a Hamiltonian function is derived, and four stationary solutions are identified, two of which are stable. The study delves into the parametric linear stability concerning the eccentricity parameter (e) of the elliptical orbit and another parameter denoted as α, representing the angle between the tether’s projection and the orbit plane. By employing the Deprit-Hori method alongside numerical computations, the study maps stability and instability regions in the parameter plane α× e.
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References
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