Flight Question Geosynch Satellite Moon

jathey88

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Is it possible to put a satillite in geosynch orbit around the moon? The satellite could be for brighton beach's gps systems. If you put a satellite at one of the lagrangian points would it hold position?
 

Jarvitä

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Is it possible to put a satillite in geosynch orbit around the moon? The satellite could be for brighton beach's gps systems. If you put a satellite at one of the lagrangian points would it hold position?

The Moon already has a synchronous satellite, it's called Earth. Draw your own conclusions as to whether an object with a negligible mass could orbit it stably at that distance.

Also, Lagrange point satellites would be co-orbiting the primary (Earth), not Moon.
 

C3PO

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Also, Lagrange point satellites would be co-orbiting the primary (Earth), not Moon.

But because the Moon is tidally locked to the Earth, wouldn't the Earth/Moon lagrange points be stationary over a point on the lunar surface?
 

Zatnikitelman

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Yes, L1 and L2 would hold approximately the same position over the Lunar surface. I don't know if two such satellites could see each other around the moon to allow for nearly 180 degrees of coverage of the Lunar surface. The problem with L1 and L2 is you can't just stick something there and make it stay, you'd need to have active correction and be in a halo orbit around the L-points.
 
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