Orbital Dynamics in the Vicinity of Binary Asteroid Systems with Irregular Shapes and Perturbative Effects

In recent years, the exploration of small celestial bodies, such as asteroids and comets, has become one of the most significant frontiers in space research, contributing substantially to our understanding of their dynamics, composition, and formation. The primary objective of this work was to develop a simplified model representing the gravitational fields of binary systems composed of elongated asteroids, based on a fully synchronous rotating mass dipole system. The adoption of a simplified model gave insights into how asteroid parameters, such as size and mass distribution, impact the dynamics of a spacecraft operating in the vicinity of irregular binary bodies. Initially, a mathematical equation was established to describe the gravitational field around a binary system of irregularly shaped asteroids. Using this formulation, computational simulations were conducted to investigate the stable and unstable regions near these bodies and to analyze how these regions vary with changes in the asteroid parameters. The study also considered the effects of solar radiation pressure on the satellite's trajectory, examining its influence on orbital stability and mission safety. The results demonstrated that the proposed model is effective in representing the main aspects of orbital dynamics in irregular binary systems, providing a valuable tool for space exploration missions. Furthermore, the study elucidated elements of the influence of external perturbations and physical parameters on the behavior of artificial satellites in such environments.