An ultra-high-altitude Sun-Synchronous orbit and the perturbation due to the Earth gravity

Abstract

This paper presents a very high altitude, Sun-Synchronous orbit around the Earth for astronomy satellites. It includes a cart wheel orbit in Hill's motion. Considering the perturbation owing to the Earth gravity, the period of the in-plane motion and out-of-plane motion are different and trajectory becomes Lissajous. The results analytically obtained are examined and compared with those via numerical integration. In addition, it is shown that the fuels amount, which is inquired to keep nominal Cart Wheel orbit properties, decreases as the altitude increases. And, the conclusion is that the Cart Wheel orbit is a kind of sun-synchronous orbit and highly practical with affordable correction velocity increment. Show more