MHB Is there a mistake in the satellite's trajectory calculation?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around simulating the trajectory of a satellite near the L4 position between the Earth and the Moon. The user initially reports that the satellite isn't moving after perturbing its position by 1 km in the x direction and not providing it with initial velocity. The calculations involve gravitational parameters and initial conditions for the simulation. A key issue identified was that the gravitational influence of the Moon was not being accurately represented in the simulation, leading to a lack of movement. The problem was traced to a sign error in the equations governing the satellite's motion. Once corrected, the user successfully plotted the satellite's trajectory over a year, confirming the satellite's movement. The discussion also touches on the importance of plotting over sufficient time to observe the satellite's motion effectively.
Dustinsfl
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The L4 position is stable in the Earth Moon and I perturbing a satellite by km in the x direction to see the trajectory over the course of the year. However, the satellite isn't moving. Can anyone see if there is something wrong? I gave the satellite no initial velocity.
Code:
In[2587]:= ClearAll["Global`*"]
me = 5.974*10^(24);
mm = 7.348*10^(22);
G = 6.67259*10^(-20);
re = 6378;
rm = 1737;
r12 = 384400;

In[2594]:= \[Mu] = G*(me + mm);
\[Pi]1 = me/(me + mm);
\[Pi]2 = mm/(me + mm);
M = me + mm;
\[CapitalOmega] = Sqrt[\[Mu]/r12^3];
\[Mu]1 = G*me;
\[Mu]2 = G*mm;

In[2601]:= xl4 = 384400/2 - 4671
yl4 = Sqrt[3]/2*384400 // N

Out[2601]= 187529

Out[2602]= 332900.

In[2612]:= r0 = {xl4+1, yl4, 0}
v0 = {0, 0, 0};

Out[2612]= {187529, 332900., 0}

{187529, 332900.16521473817`, 0}

In[2614]:= 
s = NDSolve[{x1''[t] - 
      2*\[CapitalOmega]*x2'[t] - \[CapitalOmega]^2*
       x1[t] == -\[Mu]1/(Sqrt[(x1[t] + \[Pi]2*r12)^2 + 
            x2[t]^2])^3*(x1[t] + \[Pi]2*
          r12) - \[Mu]2/(Sqrt[(x1[t] - \[Pi]1*r12)^2 + 
            x2[t]^2])^3*(x1[t] - \[Pi]1*r12), 
    x2''[t] - 
      2*\[CapitalOmega]*x1'[t] - \[CapitalOmega]^2*
       x2[t] == -\[Mu]1/(Sqrt[(x1[t] + \[Pi]2*r12)^2 + x2[t]^2])^3*
       x2[t] - \[Mu]2/(Sqrt[(x1[t] - \[Pi]1*r12)^2 + x2[t]^2])^3*
       x2[t], 
    x3''[t] == -\[Mu]1/(Sqrt[(x1[t] + \[Pi]2*r12)^2 + x2[t]^2])^3*
       x3[t] - \[Mu]2/(Sqrt[(x1[t] - \[Pi]1*r12)^2 + x2[t]^2])^3*
       x3[t], x1[0] == r0[[1]], x1'[0] == v0[[1]], x2[0] == r0[[2]], 
    x2'[0] == v0[[2]], x3[0] == r0[[3]], x3'[0] == v0[[3]]}, {x1, x2, 
    x3}, {t, 0, 24*3600*365}];

In[2617]:= ParametricPlot3D[
 Evaluate[{x1[t], x2[t], x3[t]} /. s], {t, 0, 200000}, 
 PlotStyle -> {Red, Thick}]
 
Last edited:
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I believe the gravity of the moon isn't playing a role in the simulation. Does anyone see a fix for this?
 
Just curious: what was the problem?
 
Ackbach said:
Just curious: what was the problem?

Plot the movement of a satellite at a 1km offset from L4 over the period of 1year. I will put some of these problems in the notes I type about Orbital and link to
 
dwsmith said:
Plot the movement of a satellite at a 1km offset from L4 over the period of 1year. I will put some of these problems in the notes I type about Orbital and link to

So you just hadn't plotted the motion for a long enough time?
 
Ackbach said:
So you just hadn't plotted the motion for a long enough time?

Oh that problem. Negative sign when should have been a plus.
 

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