Artificial satellites of the moon
- Paper ID
IAF-56-27
- author
- company
- year
1956
- abstract
In this paper the requirements for establishing artificial satellites of the moon are discussed. The orbit parameters of lunar satellites are considered and limits are derived for avoiding the fatal extremes of impact on the moon and recapture by the earth. Lunar satellite parameters are related to the initial conditions at the earth end of the transit trajectory to the moon. Sample transit trajectories and moon satellite orbits are presented. Computations of motion are based on an earth-moon model that represents the earth and moon as spheres rotating uniformly about their common center of mass. The magnitudes of effects due to factors neglected in this model are estimated. The problems of attitude stabilization during the earth-moon transit and of velocity adjustment near the moon are considered. Lunar satellite size and mass are related to visual magnitude, and approximate system weight requirements are estimated.