Analytic inversion of closed form solutions of the satellite's $J_2$ problem

Abstract

This report provides some closed form solutions -- and their inversion -- to a satellite's bounded motion on the equatorial plane of a spheroidal attractor (planet) considering the $J_2$ spherical zonal harmonic. The equatorial track of satellite motion -- assuming the co-latitude $\phi$ fixed at $\pi /2$ -- is investigated: the relevant time laws and trajectories are evaluated as combinations of elliptic integrals of first, second, third kind and Jacobi elliptic functions. The new feature of this report is: from the inverse $t=t(c)$ to get the period $T$ of some functions $c(t)$ of mechanical interest and then to construct the relevant $c(t)$ expansion in Fourier series, in such a way performing the inversion. Such approach -- which led to new formulations for time laws of a $J_2$ problem -- is benchmarked by applying it to the basic case of keplerian motion, finding again the classic results through our different analytic path. Keywords: $J_2$ problem, bounded satellite motion, Fourier series, elliptic integrals, Jacobi elliptic functions.