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The eleventh motion constant of the two-body problem

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Abstract

The two-body problem is a twelfth-order time-invariant dynamic system, and therefore has eleven mutually-independent time-independent integrals, here referred to as motion constants. Some of these motion constants are related to the ten mutually-independent algebraic integrals of the n-body problem, whereas some are particular to the two-body problem. The problem can be decomposed into mass-center and relative-motion subsystems, each being sixth-order and each having five mutually-independent motion constants. This paper presents solutions for the eleventh motion constant, which relates the behavior of the two subsystems. The complete set of mutually-independent motion constants describes the shape of the state-space trajectories. The use of the eleventh motion constant is demonstrated in computing a solution to a two-point boundary-value problem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aerospace Engineering Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849-5338, USA

    Andrew J. Sinclair

  2. Aerospace Engineering Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-3141, USA

    John E. Hurtado

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  1. Andrew J. Sinclair
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  2. John E. Hurtado
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Correspondence to Andrew J. Sinclair.

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Sinclair, A.J., Hurtado, J.E. The eleventh motion constant of the two-body problem. Celest Mech Dyn Astr 110, 189–198 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10569-011-9350-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10569-011-9350-6

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