In this paper we provide an extensive analysis of the global dynamics of high-areato-mass ratios geosynchronous (GEO) space debris, applying a recent technique developed by Cincotta and Simó (2000), Mean Exponential Growth factor of Nearby Orbits (MEGNO), which provides an efficient tool to investigate both regular and chaotic components of the phase space.We compute a stability atlas, for a large set of near-geosynchronous space debris, by numerically computing the MEGNO indicator, to provide an accurate understanding of the location of stable and unstable orbits as well as the timescale of their exponential divergence in case of chaotic motion. The results improve the analysis presented in Breiter et al. (2005) notably by considering the particular case of higharea-to-mass ratios space debris. The results indicate that chaotic orbits regions can be highly relevant, especially for very high area-to-mass ratios.We then provide some numerical investigations and an analytical theory that lead to a detailed understanding of the resonance structures appearing in the phase space. These analyses bring to the fore a relevant class of secondary resonances on both sides of the well-known pendulum-like pattern of geostationary objects, leading to a complex dynamics.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.