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Tether Stabilization at a Collinear Libration Point

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Abstract

The positional stability of a cable-connected satellite that is located in the vicinity of a collinear libration point is analyzed. Because the gravitational field is nonlinear, the location of the satellite’s equilibrium point is dependent on the length of the cable. It is shown that, by varying the cable’s length in a prescribed manner, it is possible to achieve positional stability. A sample calculation shows that an aluminum cable with a diameter of only 6.22 × 10−3 cm could be used to maintain two 10,000 kg satellites at the Earth-Moon L2 libration point.

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References

  1. COLOMBO, G. “The Stabilization of an Artificial Satellite at the Inferior Conjunction Point of the Earth-Moon System,” Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Special Report Number 80, November 1, 1961.

  2. FARQUHAR, R. W. “The Control and Use of Libration-Point Satellites,” NASA TR R-346, September 1970. (Originally published as Stanford University Report SUDAAR-350, July 1968).

  3. PEARSON, J. “Anchored Lunar Satellites for Cislunar Transportation and Communication,” Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 27, No. 1, January–March 1979, pp. 39–62.

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  4. BELETSKY, V. V. and LEVIN, E. M. “Dynamics of Space Tether Systems,” Advances in the Astronautical Sciences Series, Vol. 83, Univelt, San Diego, 1993, pp. 443–464.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Physics Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland, 20723, USA

    Robert W. Farquhar

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  1. Robert W. Farquhar
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Additional information

Adapted from Chapter 6 (entitled “Stable Cable”) of the author’s doctoral thesis that was completed at Stanford University in 1968.

The author is indebted to Prof. Arun Misra for providing an explanation of certain aspects of Colombo’s analysis.

Whenever double signs appear in equations, the upper sign will hold at L2 and the lower sign at L1.

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Farquhar, R.W. Tether Stabilization at a Collinear Libration Point. J of Astronaut Sci 49, 91–106 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03546338

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03546338

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