Bicircular Problem
Author: Tianjiang Shuo
Website: https://cislunarspace.cn
Definition
A simplified four-body problem model in which the Earth and Moon revolve in circular orbits around their barycenter, and the Earth-Moon barycenter moves in a circular orbit around the Sun. This model is incoherent (does not satisfy Newton's equations) but serves as a test model for understanding periodic orbit properties.
Application Value
The Bicircular Problem serves as a simplified test model for the four-body problem in orbital design. Due to its neglect of certain gravitational coupling effects, it offers high computational efficiency and is commonly used for rapidly exploring the general characteristics of periodic orbits. In cislunar mission design, researchers can leverage the BCP to preliminarily analyze the geometric features of Earth-Moon transfer trajectories, providing initial guesses and physical intuition for subsequent precise calculations in complete models.
Related Concepts
References
- Gómez et al. 2001, Chapter 2。
- Gómez 等 - 2001。