Nonlinear normal modes of relative orbital motion for unperturbed two-body reference orbits

Eric A. Butcher, T. Alan Lovell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) are obtained for spacecraft relative motion in the case of bounded Keplerian reference orbits. For this purpose, the Lyapunov-Floquet transformation, invariant manifold-based order reduction, and time-dependent normal forms are employed on the third order extension of the Tschauner-Hempel equations to obtain the NNM manifolds and the reduced order dynamics on the NNMs. This approach extends the modal interpretation of relative orbital motion from the Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire equations to the regime of elliptic reference orbits and large separation distances in which second and third order nonlinearities are non-negligible.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)191-200
Number of pages10
JournalActa Astronautica
Volume153
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering

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