Competitive symbolic integration in satellite dynamics Original Research Article

In this work, we shall compare a symbolic integration with a numerical integration of a test problem arising in satellite dynamics. An equatorial satellite with the J2 effect in BF variables will be taken. As symbolic integrator, we shall take View the MathML sourceerView the MathML sourceewton©, a Maple V package implemented by the authors. Classical and contrasted numerical methods will be chosen to perform the numerical integration. We pointed out the advantages of symbolic integration as an efficient method for making very long time predictions on the orbit of the satellite.