Influence of the atmosphere density gradient on rotation and orientation of a dumbbell-shaped satellite (Q5960253)

The paper considers an orbital junction of bodies, i.e. two material points with masses \(m_1\) and \(m_2\) connected by an ideally flexible weightless nonextendable thread which move due to the action of gravitation and aerodynamical forces applied to the points \(m_1\) and \(m_2\). The plane relative motion of the system with stretched thread is studied under the assumption that the center of masses of the system moves in a circular orbit. The phase portraits of the system and their evolution under parameter changes are investigated. It is shown that the aerogradient effect causes qualitatively new features in the motion of the orbital junction of bodies.