AAS 98-130

SEARCHING FOR REPEATING GROUND TRACK ORBITS: A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH

M. Lara - Real Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada, Spain

Abstract

For the zonal part of the earth artificial satellite problem, families of periodic orbits are computed in a synodic reference frame. A systematic procedure for finding periodic orbits at any inclination is described. The solutions found in this way repeat exactly their ground track on the surface of the earth and are a very good start for further refinements including other perturbations. A practical application is provided.

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