Long-term effect of solar radiation on the orbit of an octagonal satellite orbiting around the Moon

Abstract

A new radiation pressure model of the relay satellite of SELENE whose shape is like an octagonal pillar was developed. Equations describing long-term variation of the orbital elements due to the solar radiation pressure were also derived by using this model. No long-term variation of semimajor axis of the spacecraft appears during the “noshadowing” period. However, long-term variation of other orbital elements can be expressed by series in eccentricity. Since the eccentricity of the relay satellite is large ( e ≈ 0.4), the effect of solar radiation pressure cannot be neglected.