Artificial Sun synchronous frozen orbit control scheme design based on J 2 perturbation

Abstract

Sun synchronous orbit and frozen orbit formed due to J2 perturbation have very strict constraints on orbital parameters, which have restricted the application a lot. In this paper, several control strategies were illustrated to real- ize Sun synchronous frozen orbit with arbitrary orbital el- ements using continuous low-thrust. Firstly, according to mean element method, the averaged rate of change of the or- bital elements, originating from disturbing constant accelera- tions over one orbital period, was derived from Gauss' varia- tion of parameters equations. Then, we proposed that binor- mal acceleration could be used to realize Sun synchronous orbit, and radial or transverse acceleration could be adopted to eliminate the rotation of the argument of the perigee. Finally, amending methods on the control strategies men- tioned above were presented to eliminate the residual secular growth. Simulation results showed that the control strate- gies illustrated in this paper could realize Sun synchronous frozen orbit with arbitrary orbital elements, and can save much more energy than the schemes presented in previous studies, and have no side effect on other orbital parameters' secular motion.