Questions tagged [lagrangian-points]
Lagrangian points (also Lagrange points, L-points, or libration points) are the five positions (L1 - L5) surrounding two celestial bodies where gravitational pull of the two large mass bodies provides the centripetal force required to orbit them. Such points are usually nominally unstable but somewhat periodic around celestial systems with stable orbits.
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How bad is a non-Lagrangian Point orbit?
I am no expert on space physics, just an interested amateur. I've been searching for a few weeks and having a hard time gaining insight on this question. Phrasing the question more specifically: how ...
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Why Euclid's orbit is not like Gaia but like JWST?
Euclid, Gaia and JWST are all orbiting Lagrange Point L2. Why is Euclid's orbit similar to JWST but not Gaia's, why is Gaia's orbit different than Euclid and JWST ?
Orbits are shown here for example:
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How do "halo orbits" save on propellent (delta-v)?
I am trying to understand what advantage the satellite's 'Halo Orbit' has compared to LEO or Geostationary orbits.
"Lagrange points have proven to be very useful indeed since a spacecraft can be ...
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What use (if any) does the "empty focus" of an elliptical orbit have in orbital mechanics?
The 2 bodies in a 2-body system orbit around their common barycenter, which is located at the common primary focus of both their orbits. The empty foci don't seem to have a job in celestial mechanics.
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Help with fictional scenario: trapped in Lagrange Point orbit
I'm a full-time screenwriter trying to create a realistic sci-fi scenario, though not necessarily a hyper-realistic one like those in The Martian. Think more along the lines of pseudo-scientific ...
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What is the substantial difference between transit orbits and manifold trajectories in the frame of circular restricted three body problem?
In my MSc thesis I faced the problem of unstable hyperbolic invariant manifold trajectories (UHIMs) emanating from planar Lyapunov orbits around two collinear Lagrange points L1 and L2 of the Sun-...
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If James Webb goes "over the hill" is it gone for good?
James Webb is in a Halo orbit around Earth's L2 point. It is in a gravitational saddle: two directions are stable ("up-down" and "front-back"). The "in-out" direction is ...
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Can the JWST look at Earth? What would it see? [duplicate]
There's a few questions on the site about whether we can see the James Webb Space Telescope from Earth (i.e. here and here), but I'm wondering about the opposite - can we see Earth using the JWST?
I ...
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How does one design a trajectory involving a lunar and Earth flyby and Lagrange points? What tools are used to calculate the initial guesses?
I'm trying to design a trajectory that takes a spacecraft from Sun-Earth L2 to a lunar flyby, to an Earth flyby and then to Mars (two flybys might be too complex, I might just do one). I've optimized ...
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What is the distance between Mars and the lagrange point L2 Mars Sun? [duplicate]
I am writing a science fiction novel that is more soft that hard sci fi but I would like to know at least an estimat of the distances between L2 Mars Sun and Mars. I know that asking for an exact ...
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Is there something inherently more difficult about servicing satellites in the 2nd Sun-Earth Lagrangian point?
There are several questions already asked on here about the potential for servicing the James Webb Space Telescope. This question asks what happens if the JWST needs repair. Basically, there are no ...
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Gravitational field of the Moon and Earth
Is there any method to find a point or plane in space where the gravitational field of the Moon and Earth are the same?
And if so, what happens to a spacecraft if it passes through that point or ...
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Can JWST come in for a pit stop? Is the fuel supply on JWST adequate for a transfer to an Earth Moon libration point to allow repairs?
The James Webb Space Telescope is generally considered to be in an unserviceable location at SEL2.
If servicing becomes necessary, is it possible for the JWST to use a low energy heteroclinic transfer ...
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More advanced alternatives to Trajectory Optimization Tool?
I've been using Arrowstar's Trajectory Optimization Tool to plan interplanetary transfers, and it works well. The next thing I want to do is plan gravity assists from the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point ...
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Would it be practical to position a telescope like JWST at Sun-Earth L4 or L5?
During a discussion of Lagrange points I was asked why we didn't put JWST at SE L4 or L5 since they are less unstable than L2. I thought a bit and came to think that the Earth gravity driven Halo ...
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