AAS 96-135

SATELLITE MOTION IN A VINTI POTENTIAL

L. M. Rater, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Space & Defense Systems

Abstract

This paper presents the theory of satellite motion in a Vinti potential. The author contributes four modifications to the solution: 1) an analytic means of determining the roots of a certain fourth-order polynomial; 2) the general expression for the time derivative of the angle introduced by Vinti to eliminate a singularity at the poles; 3) elimination of the restriction imposed by Vinti's analytical solution that the satellite orbiting the Earth not have an inclination less than 1° 54' or greater than 178° 6'; and 4) elimination of a possible small divisor from the expression for the constant a2.