Lifetime and Dynamics of Natural Orbits around Titan

Considering the growing interest in sending probes to the natural satellite Titan, our work aims to investigate and map natural orbits around this moon. For that, we use mathematical models with forces that have symmetry/asymmetry phenomena, depending on the force, applied to orbits around Titan. We...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lucas S. Ferreira, Rafael Sfair, Antônio F. Bertachini A. Prado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Symmetry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/14/6/1243
Description
Summary:Considering the growing interest in sending probes to the natural satellite Titan, our work aims to investigate and map natural orbits around this moon. For that, we use mathematical models with forces that have symmetry/asymmetry phenomena, depending on the force, applied to orbits around Titan. We evaluated the effects due to the gravitational attraction of the Saturn, together with the perturbative effects coming from the non-sphericity of Titan (the gravitational coefficient <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>J</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>) and the effects of the atmospheric drag present in the natural satellite. Lifetime maps were generated for different initial configurations of the orbit of the probe, which were analyzed in different scenarios of orbital perturbations. The results showed the existence of orbits surviving at least 20 years and conditions with shorter times, but sufficient to carry out possible missions, including the important polar orbits. Furthermore, the investigation of the oscillation rate of the altitude of the probe, called coefficient <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mo>Δ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>, proposed in this work, showed orbital conditions that result in more minor oscillations in the altitude of the spacecraft.
ISSN:2073-8994