MadSci Network: Astronomy
Query:

Subject: Do 'frozen' lunar orbits exist?

Date: Sat Dec 30 11:20:59 2006
Posted by Ed
Grade level: nonaligned School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered. Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Astronomy
ID: 1167502859.As
Message:

The story in the following link suggests that there are 'frozen' lunar orbits in
which a spacecraft can orbit indefinitely, in such an orbit that it does not
encounter 'mascons'.  Isn't it true that a spacecraft's
orbit will remain fixed with respect to the solar system?  If so then the
spacecraft will cover the entire lunar surface in 30 days as the moon orbits the
earth.  If that's true then the spacecraft should eventually encounter these
'mascons'.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/06nov_loworbit.htm?list8692



Re: Do 'frozen' lunar orbits exist?

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