In orbital mechanics, a frozen orbit is an orbit for an artificial satellite in which perturbations have been minimized by careful selection of the orbital parameters. Perturbations can result from natural drifting due to the central body's shape, or other factors. Typically, the altitude of a satellite in a frozen orbit remains constant at the same point in each revolution over a long period of time.[1] Variations in the inclination, position of the apsis of the orbit, and eccentricity have been minimized by choosing initial values so that their perturbations cancel out.[2] This results in a long-term stable orbit that minimizes the use of station-keeping propellant.
- ^ Eagle, C. David. "Frozen Orbit Design" (PDF). Orbital Mechanics with Numerit. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ Chobotov, Vladimir A. (2002). Orbital Mechanics (3rd ed.). American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. p. 221.