Long-term Orbit Stability of the Apollo 11 Eagle Lunar Module Ascent Stage
Space Physics
2021-05-24 v1
Abstract
The Apollo 11 Eagle Lunar Module ascent stage was abandoned in lunar orbit after the historic landing in 1969. Its fate is unknown. Numerical analysis described here provides evidence that this object might have remained in lunar orbit to the present day. The simulations show a periodic variation in eccentricity of the orbit, correlated to the selenographic longitude of the apsidal line. The rate of apsidal precession is correlated to eccentricity. These two factors appear to interact to stabilize the orbit over the long term.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2105.10088,
title = {Long-term Orbit Stability of the Apollo 11 Eagle Lunar Module Ascent Stage},
author = {James Meador},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2105.10088},
year = {2021}
}
Comments
13 pages, 8 figures. Submitted to Planetary and Space Science