Perturbing Lyapunov functions and stability criteria for initial time difference. (Q5931692)

The author considers the orbital motion of a tethered satellite system -- two satellites connected by an inextensible tether. The motion of the system is analysed on the base of two-body problem of celestial mechanics, and dynamic behavior and control problems such as the stabiliity of the system are studied. One of the interesting dynamic characteristics of a general tethered satellite system (GTSS) is non-Keplerian orbital motion of each of the two satellites and the center of mass of the system. The author examines the characteristics of the non-Keplerian motion of GTSS. To study the problems of identification and orbit determination of a GTSS in the presence of out-of-plane librations, the author extends the approach and results of the paper by \textit{J. E. Cochran jun.} et al. [J. Aeronaut. Sci. 46, No. 2, 177--194 (1998)].