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Dynamics of Orbits near 3:1 Resonance in the Earth-Moon SystemThe Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft is currently in a highly elliptical orbit around Earth with a period near 3:1 resonance with the Moon. Its orbit is oriented so that apogee does not approach the Moon. Simulations show this orbit to be remarkably stable over the next twenty years. This article examines the dynamics of such orbits in the Circular Restricted 3-Body Problem (CR3BP). We look at three types of periodic orbits, each exhibiting a type of symmetry of the CR3BP. For each of the orbit types, we assess the local stability using Floquet analysis. Although not all of the periodic solutions are stable in the mathematical sense, any divergence is so slow as to produce practical stability over several decades. We use Poincare maps with twenty-year propagations to assess the nonlinear stability of the orbits, where the perturbation magnitudes are related to the orbit uncertainty for the IBEX mission. Finally we show that these orbits belong to a family of orbits connected in a bifurcation diagram that exhibits exchange of stability. The analysis of these families of period orbits provides a valuable starting point for a mission orbit trade study.
Document ID
20160010593
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Dichmann, Donald J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Lebois, Ryan
(Applied Defense Solutions, Inc. Fulton, MD, United States)
Carrico, John P., Jr.
(Applied Defense Solutions, Inc. Fulton, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 26, 2016
Publication Date
January 1, 2013
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Report/Patent Number
LEGNEW-OLDGSFC-PubID13124
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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