The effect of solar pressure on the motion and stability of interconnected satellites in orbit

The paper deals with the effect of solar pressure on the motion and stability of two satellites connected by an inextensible string in a central gravitational field of force. A system of nonlinear, nonhomogeneous, and non-autonomous equations under the rotating frame of reference in Nechvíle's coordinate system have been obtained. The general solution of the above system of equations is beyond our reach. The particular solutions have been obtained.The particular solution in which the system lies, wholly along the radius vector joining the attracting centre and the centre of mass of the system under the central attracting force along was found to be stable (Singh, 1973). Naturally we got interested in examining the effect of solar radiation pressure on the stability of this particular solution.