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Stationary Configurations for Co-orbital Satellites with Small Arbitrary Masses

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Abstract

We derive general results on the existence of stationary configurations for N co-orbital satellites with small but otherwise arbitrary masses m i , revolving on circular and planar orbits around a massive primary. The existence of stationary configurations depends on the parity of N. If N is odd, then for any arbitrary angular separation between the satellites, there always exists a set of masses (positive or negative) which achieves stationarity. However, physically acceptable solutions (m i > 0 for all i) restrict this existence to sub-domains of angular separations. If N is even, then for given angular separations of the satellites, there is in general no set of masses which achieves stationarity. The case N=3 is treated completely for small arbitrary satellite masses, giving all the possible solutions and their stability, to within our approximations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatoire de Paris, LESIA, 92195, Meudon Cédex, France

    Stéfan Renner & Bruno Sicardy

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  1. Stéfan Renner
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  2. Bruno Sicardy
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Renner, S., Sicardy, B. Stationary Configurations for Co-orbital Satellites with Small Arbitrary Masses. Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy 88, 397–414 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CELE.0000023420.80881.67

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CELE.0000023420.80881.67

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