Elastic Cable-Connected Satellites System Under Several Influences of General Nature: Equations of Motion in Elliptical Orbit

Abstract

In the present work, we have applied the analytical approach to obtain the equations of motion of a system of two cable connected artificial satellites under the effect of various perturbative forces of general nature. These perturbative forces are the earth’s shadow, solar radiation pressure, earth’s oblateness and the earth’s magnetic field. Our aim is to investigate the motion of the centre of mass of the two artificial cable connected satellite system in Keplerian elliptical orbit. We establish the equations of motion for the centre of mass of the system and also for the relative motion of the system. We obtain equations of motion in the rotating frame of reference as well as in Nechvile’s co-ordinate system. The cable under consideration is light, flexible, non-conducting and elastic in nature.