For very long tethered systems the sum of the kinetic and potential energy can be positive. The system remains in a circular orbit as long as the masses remain vertically aligned. The system is unstable without constant control of the alignment. If the upper mass rotates forward in the direction of the orbital motion, the system escapes out of orbit. If the upper mass rotates backward, the system falls out of orbit and the lower mass impacts the body around which the system is orbiting.


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    Title :

    Study of an orbiting tethered dumbbell system having positive orbital energy


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Intl. Conference on Space Tethers for Science in the Space Station Era ; 1987 ; Venice, Italy


    Publication date :

    1988-01-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :



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