Ground- and Space-Based Observation of Kordylewski Clouds

The ghost dust clouds in the vicinity of Earth-Moon triangular libration points are known as the “Kordylewski clouds” (KDCs). Objects in the KDCs may give hints to the physical, chemical, and dynamical properties of the solar system. As a result, in situ exploration of the KDCs can help us understand the evolution of our solar system. This paper first summarizes the observation history of the KDCs. Based on the properties of the KDCs, a ground- and space-based observation concept is proposed, using the CAST 100 platform developed by DFH and ground stations. Some details of the concept are exploited.

On normal coordinates in the vicinity of the Lagrangian libration points of the restricted elliptic three-body problem

A planar restricted elliptic three-body problem is considered. The motions close to the triangular libration points are studied. The problem parameters (the eccentricity of the orbit of the main attracting bodies and the ratio of their masses) are assumed to lie inside the linear stability region of the libration points. The magnitude of eccentricity is considered small. A linear canonical, periodic in true anomaly transformation is obtained analytically up to the second degree of eccentricity inclusive that reduces the Hamiltonian function of the linearized equations of perturbed motion to real normal form in the vicinity of the libration points. This form corresponds to two harmonic oscillators not connected to one another, with frequencies depending on the problem parameters. In constructing the normalizing canonical transformation, the Depri-Hori method of the perturbation theory of Hamiltonian systems is used. Its implementation in the problem under study relies heavily on computer systems of analytical calculations.

A Modified Targeting Strategy for Station-Keeping of Libration Point Orbits in the Real Earth-Moon System

In this paper, a modified targeting strategy is developed for missions on libration point orbits (LPOs) in the real Earth-Moon system. In order to simulate a station-keeping procedure in a dynamic model as realistic as possible, LPOs generated in the circular restricted three-body problem (CRTBP) are discretized and reconverged in a geocentric inertial system for later simulations. After that, based on the dynamic property of the state transition matrix, a modified strategy of selecting target points for station-keeping is presented to reduce maneuver costs. By considering both the solar gravity and radiation pressure in a nominal LPO design, station-keeping simulations about fuel consumption for real LPOs around both collinear and triangular libration points are performed in a high-fidelity ephemeris model. Results show the effectivity of the modified strategy with total maneuver costs reduced by greater than 10% for maintaining triangular LPOs.

Vlasov-Poisson-Poisson equations, critical mass and kordylewski clouds

A derivation of the Vlasov-Poisson-Poisson equation is proposed for studying stationary solutions of a system of gravitating charged particles in vicinity of triangular libration points (Kordylevsky cloud). Stationary solutions are sought as functions of integrals, which leads to elliptic nonlinear equations for the potentials of the gravitational and electrostatic fields. This gives a critical mass: for bodies with large masses dominates gravitation forces, and for bodies with smaller masses - electrostatic forces.