Equilibrium configurations of three hinged bodies in the plane of a circular orbit

S. A. Mirer


Abstract: The attitude motion of three hinged bodies affected by gravitational torque in the plane of a circular orbit is examined. The case where the hinges are located on principal inertia axes in corresponding bodies is considered. All planar equilibriums of the system are found in orbital reference frame as well as their existence conditions and sufficient conditions of stability.

Keywords: satellite, system of hinged bodies, equilibrium, stability.