Higher-order analytical attitude propagation of an oblate rigid body under gravity-gradient torque (Q1954454)

Summary: A higher-order perturbation theory for the rotation of a uniaxial satellite under gravity-gradient torque demonstrates that known special configurations of the attitude dynamics at which the satellite rotates, on average, as in a torque-free state, are only the result of an early truncation of the secular frequencies of motion. In addition to providing a deeper insight into the dynamics, the higher order of the analytical solution makes it competitive when compared with the long-term numerical integration of the equations of motion.