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Radially accelerated periodic orbits in the Clohessy-Wiltshire frame

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Abstract

A semi-analytic method for determining the periodic trajectories of a spacecraft under the influence of a constant small thrust directed from a central station in a circular orbit is presented using the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations. The amplitude and frequency of the radially accelerated periodic trajectories are semi-analytically derived. A simple on-off orbital control scheme to change the amplitude of these radially accelerated trajectories is also proposed and numerically verified. These radially accelerated periodic orbits are applicable for a smallthrust laser-propelled space vehicle mission in the vicinity of an Earth orbiting laser station.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan

    Hiroshi Yamakawa (Professor member AAS)

  2. Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, 229-8510, Japan

    Ikkoh Funaki (Associate Professor)

Authors
  1. Hiroshi Yamakawa
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  2. Ikkoh Funaki
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Yamakawa, H., Funaki, I. Radially accelerated periodic orbits in the Clohessy-Wiltshire frame. J of Astronaut Sci 56, 1–16 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03256539

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03256539

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