Synchronous equatorial satellites

Abstract

It is shown that the equilibrium positions of a synchronous equatorial satellite are situated in the directions of the extreme positions of the radius of the equatorial section of the synchronous, and not the Earth's geoid. It is further established that the motion of13; a synchronous equatorial satellite is best explained on the basis of a much-more-than elliptically longitudinally heterogeneous shape of the curve of Earth's equator, and with the inclusion of more harmonics of the Earth's gravitational potential in the analysis. The accuracy and adequacy of the known geopotential constants, called for in the numerical determination of the locations of the equilibrium positions of the satellite, is examined13; next. The paper concludes with a discussion of the stability of the satellite around an equilibrium position, subject to an orbital injection error from the uncertainty in the knowledge of exact location of the equilibrium position. It is found that the stable geostationary equilibrium position in the East, south of West Coast of India, above the Indian Ocean, is better suited for experiments towards exact determination of the locations of equilibrium positions of the satellite

    Similar works