On the stability behaviour of the rotational motion in a circular orbit for an elastic — rigid body

In this paper the stability of motion of a symmetric satellite-gyrostat, with Visco-elastic square plate attached to it, around the center of mass in a circular orbit under a central gravitational field is studied. The gyrostat has a rotor oriented inside it such that the rotor becomes dynamically as well as statically stable with respect to the whole system. A study of the stability of this system has been done by using the method of separation of motion and averaging. Furthermore, we have solved the problem where there is no rotor.