Analysis of the Possibility of Creating a Stable Satellite of the Asteroid Apophis as a Homogeneous Triaxial Ellipsoid

Abstract

The problem of creating a stable satellite orbit about the asteroid Apophis as a homogeneous triaxial ellipsoid is investigated. The motion of the spacecraft around the asteroid has been simulated by taking into account the main perturbations (from the attraction of celestial bodies, the asteroid’s nonsphericity, and the solar radiation pressure) and the asteroid’s spin. It is shown that there is a possibility of creating a stable satellite orbit about the asteroid. This orbit can be used for a detailed study of the asteroid’s characteristics and the improvement of Apophis’ orbit through ground-based radio measurements of the motion of a satellite equipped with a radio beacon.