Long-term orbit prediction for the Venus Radar Mapper Mission using an averaging methodA set of singly averaged equations of motion are presented and applied to long-term orbit prediction of an orbiting spacecraft around a slowly rotating planet, using the Venus Radar Mapper Mission as an example. The equations of motion used are valid for all eccentricities less than one. The disturbing potentials used include nonsphericity of the Venus gravity field and third-body effects due to the sun. Recursive relationships are used in the expansion and evaluation of these potentials and their respective partial derivatives. Special care is taken to optimize computational efficiency. The averaging method is compared with high precision Cowell's method using a desktop microcomputer and shows computational saving of about two orders of magnitude.
Document ID
19840061423
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kwok, J. H. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mission Design Section, Pasadena CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1984
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 84-1985Report Number: AIAA PAPER 84-1985