Analysis of Perturbations and Station Keeping Maneuvers of a Satellite in Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO)

Authors

• Michael I. Safier, Washington University in St. LouisFollow

Abstract

This independent study analyzed the station keeping maneuvers and ΔV’s required to offset major natural perturbations to keep a satellite in Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO). This was completed with Poliastro in Python by modeling those perturbations and propagating through a GEO orbit. This allowed for the determination of the North-South and East-West station keeping maneuvers required to keep the satellite within a ± 0.05 longitude and latitude box. The four major perturbations studied were 𝐽₂, lunar gravity, solar gravity, and solar radiation pressure, whose accelerations were all found to be on an order of magnitude of 10−9 km/𝑠². The calculated annual Δ𝑉 budget was found to be 45.12 m/s for North-South Drift and 0.21 m/s for East-West Drift. Although the East-West Drift was underestimated due to the exclusion of 𝐽_2,2 effects, North-South Drift was still the dominant factor in the Δ𝑉 budget due to the inclination increase of about 0.9 degrees per year.

Document Type

Final Report

Author's School

McKelvey School of Engineering

Author's Department

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Class Name

Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences Independent Study

Language

English (en)

Date of Submission

5-12-2026

Recommended Citation

Safier, Michael I., "Analysis of Perturbations and Station Keeping Maneuvers of a Satellite in Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO)" (2026). Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study. 329.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mems500/329