Skip to main content
Log in

A problem of orbital dynamics, which is separable in KS-variables

  • Published:
Celestial mechanics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The motion of a rocket (with constant thrust) in the gravitational field of a mass point is studied. As is well known, the two dimensional version of this problem is separable in Levi-Civitavariables. It is shown here that, for the three dimensional case, the KS-variables produce the separability. A closed solution is found by using elliptic functions. Equivalent problems are mentioned.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Frank, P. and Mises, R. v.: 1943,Die Differential- und Integralgleichungen der Mechanik und Physik, Bd. II, Rosenberg.

  • Kaula, W. M.: 1965, ‘Gravitational and other Perturbations of a Satellite Orbit’, inDynamics of Rockets and Satellites (ed. by G. V. Groves), North-Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kustaanheimo, P. and Stiefel, E.: 1965, ‘Perturbation Theory of Kepler Motion Based on Spinor Regularisation’,J. Reine Angew. Math. 218.

  • Scheifele, G.: 1970, ‘On Nonclassical Canonical Systems’,Celes. Mech. 2, No. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiefel, E. and Scheifele, G.: 1971,Linear and Regular Celestial Mechanics, Grundl. der math. Wissenschaften Bd. 174, Springer.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kirchgraber, U.R.S. A problem of orbital dynamics, which is separable in KS-variables. Celestial Mechanics 4, 340–347 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01231396

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01231396

Keywords

Navigation