A consistent numerical integration of orbit, tides, and rotation for synchronous satellites

par Dr Sam Fayolle (ESTEC)

jeudi 24 juil. 2025, 14:00 → 16:00 Europe/Paris

Denisse (Observatoire de Paris)

Consistently modelling satellites tides in both the satellite's own dynamics and those of a nearby spacecraft requires accounting for the satellite's instantaneous tidal deformation. For synchronous satellites, however, the main tidal forcing is perfectly commensurate with the orbital-rotational period, placing strict consistency requirements on the modelling of the orbit-rotation-tides interplay. In this talk, I will present a fully coupled model in which the satellite's deformation is integrated concurrently with its orbit and rotation. Applied to the Earth-Moon and Mars-Phobos systems, our model produces expected dissipation signatures while preserving spin-orbit resonance. This approach supports robust estimation of tidal parameters from their effects on both moon and spacecraft dynamics - an essential step for upcoming mission such as JUICE and Europa Clipper.

https://cnrs.zoom.us/j/91417644132?pwd=MgFZ8LONrasceeMk02fslnyotTbUGp.1