Our understanding of Titan, Saturn＇s largest satellite, has recently been considerably enhanced, thanks to the Cassini-Huygens mission. Since the Saturn Orbit Injection in July 2004, the probe has been harvesting new...Our understanding of Titan, Saturn＇s largest satellite, has recently been considerably enhanced, thanks to the Cassini-Huygens mission. Since the Saturn Orbit Injection in July 2004, the probe has been harvesting new insights of the Kronian system. In particular, this mission orchestrated a climax on January 14, 2005 with the descent of the Huygens probe into Titan＇s thick atmosphere. The orbiter and the lander have provided us with picturesque views of extraterrestrial landscapes, new in composition but reassuringly Earth-like in shape. Thus, Saturn＇s largest satellite displays chains of mountains, fields of dark and damp dunes, lakes and possibly geologic activity. As on Earth, landscapes on Titan are eroded and modeled by some alien hydrology： dendritic systems, hydrocarbon lakes, and methane clouds imply periods of heavy rainfalls, even though rain was never observed directly. Titan＇s surface also proved to be geologically active - today or in the recent past - given the small number of impact craters listed to date, as well as a few possible cryovolcanic features. We attempt hereafter a synthesis of the most significant results of the Cassini-Huygens endeavor, with emphasis on the surface.展开更多
A new non-simplified model of formation flying is derived in the presence of an oblate main- body and third-body perturbation. In the proposed model, considering the perturbation of the third- body in an inclined orbi...A new non-simplified model of formation flying is derived in the presence of an oblate main- body and third-body perturbation. In the proposed model, considering the perturbation of the third- body in an inclined orbit, the effect of obliquity （axial tilt） of the main-body is becoming important and has been propounded in the absolute motion of a reference satellite and the relative motion of a follower satellite. From a new point of view, J2 perturbed relative motion equations and considering a disturbing body in an elliptic inclined three dimensional orbit, are derived using Lagrangian mechanics based on accurate introduced perturbed reference satellite motion. To validate the accuracy of the model presented in this study, an auxiliary model was constructed as the Main-body Center based Relative Motion （MCRM） model. Finally, the importance of the main-body＇s obliquity is demonstrated by several examples related to the Earth-Moon system in relative motion and lunar satellite formation keeping. The main-body＇s obliquity has a remarkable effect on formation keeping in the examined in-track and projected circular orbit （PCO） formations.展开更多
文摘Our understanding of Titan, Saturn＇s largest satellite, has recently been considerably enhanced, thanks to the Cassini-Huygens mission. Since the Saturn Orbit Injection in July 2004, the probe has been harvesting new insights of the Kronian system. In particular, this mission orchestrated a climax on January 14, 2005 with the descent of the Huygens probe into Titan＇s thick atmosphere. The orbiter and the lander have provided us with picturesque views of extraterrestrial landscapes, new in composition but reassuringly Earth-like in shape. Thus, Saturn＇s largest satellite displays chains of mountains, fields of dark and damp dunes, lakes and possibly geologic activity. As on Earth, landscapes on Titan are eroded and modeled by some alien hydrology： dendritic systems, hydrocarbon lakes, and methane clouds imply periods of heavy rainfalls, even though rain was never observed directly. Titan＇s surface also proved to be geologically active - today or in the recent past - given the small number of impact craters listed to date, as well as a few possible cryovolcanic features. We attempt hereafter a synthesis of the most significant results of the Cassini-Huygens endeavor, with emphasis on the surface.
文摘A new non-simplified model of formation flying is derived in the presence of an oblate main- body and third-body perturbation. In the proposed model, considering the perturbation of the third- body in an inclined orbit, the effect of obliquity （axial tilt） of the main-body is becoming important and has been propounded in the absolute motion of a reference satellite and the relative motion of a follower satellite. From a new point of view, J2 perturbed relative motion equations and considering a disturbing body in an elliptic inclined three dimensional orbit, are derived using Lagrangian mechanics based on accurate introduced perturbed reference satellite motion. To validate the accuracy of the model presented in this study, an auxiliary model was constructed as the Main-body Center based Relative Motion （MCRM） model. Finally, the importance of the main-body＇s obliquity is demonstrated by several examples related to the Earth-Moon system in relative motion and lunar satellite formation keeping. The main-body＇s obliquity has a remarkable effect on formation keeping in the examined in-track and projected circular orbit （PCO） formations.
