The equilibrium solutions of the restricted problem of three rigid bodies with variable mass

Abstract

In this paper we consider the circular planar restricted problem of three rigid bodiesSi(i=1, 2, 3), two of them are axisymmetric ellipsoids and a third bodyS3 is a spherical satellite with decreasing mass, under the gravitational forces. The effect of small perturbations in the Coriolis force and the centrifugal forces on the location of equilibrium points has been studied. It is found only in the case when the primaries have equal differences between their respective principal moments of inertial the pointsL4 andL5 form nearly equilateral tringles with the primaries. The equilibrium pointsL1,L2,L3 remain collinear an ies on the line joining the primaries.