In orbital mechanics, a Lissajous orbit, named after Jules Antoine Lissajous, is a quasi-periodic orbital trajectory that an object can follow around a Lagrangian point of a three-body system without requiring any propulsion. Lyapunov orbits around a libration point are curved paths that lie entirely in the plane of the two primary bodies. In contrast, Lissajous orbits include components in this plane and perpendicular to it, and follow a Lissajous curve. Halo orbits also include components perpendicular to the plane, but they are periodic, while Lissajous orbits are not.
In practice, any orbit around Lagrangian points L1, L2, or L3 is dynamically unstable, meaning small departures from equilibrium grow exponentially over time. As a result, spacecraft in libration point orbits must use their propulsion systems to perform orbital station-keeping. Orbits about Lagrangian points L4 and L5 are dynamically stable in theory so long as the ratio of the masses of the two main objects is greater than about 25, meaning the natural dynamics (without the use of a spacecraft's propulsion system) keep the spacecraft in the vicinity of the Lagrangian point even when slightly perturbed from equilibrium. These orbits can however be destabilized by other heavenly objects. It has been found for example that the L4 and L5 points in the Earth–Moon system would be stable for 1000 million years, even with perturbations from the sun, but because of smaller perturbations by the planets, orbits around these points can only last a few million years.
Several missions have used Lissajous trajectories: ACE at Sun–Earth L1 and WMAP at Sun–Earth L2 and also the Genesis mission collecting solar particles at L1. On 14 May 2009, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched into space the Herschel and Planck observatories, both of which use Lissajous orbits at Sun–Earth L2. ESA's future Gaia mission will also use a Lissajous orbit at Sun–Earth L2. In 2011, NASA transferred two of its THEMIS spacecraft from Earth orbit to Lunar orbit by way of Earth-Moon L1 and L2 Lissajous orbits. China's lunar orbiter Chang'e 2 will leave lunar orbit on June 16, 2011 and fly to L2.
In the science fiction novel Sunstorm by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter, a huge shield is constructed in space to protect the Earth from a deadly solar superstorm which would have been in a Lissajous orbit as would a group of other wealthy and powerful people who sheltered opposite it at L2 – in line with both Earth and Moon as well as the L1 shield with a Lunar eclipse taking place at the time.
Famous quotes containing the word orbit:
“The Fitchburg Railroad touches the pond about a hundred rods south of where I dwell. I usually go to the village along its causeway, and am, as it were, related to society by this link. The men on the freight trains, who go over the whole length of the road, bow to me as to an old acquaintance, they pass me so often, and apparently they take me for an employee; and so I am. I too would fain be a track-repairer somewhere in the orbit of the earth.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)