PERTURBATIONS OF AN EARTHS SATELLITE DUE TO INERTIAL FORCES CAUSED BYTHE INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL BODIES ON THE GEOCENTER MOTION

The coupling of Moon, Sun and planets with the non-spherical Earth res ults in the additional acceleration of Earth's center of inertia. Cons equently, the geocentric motion of an Earth's satellite is affected by the additional inertial forces. In this paper we evaluate correspondi ng perturbing accelerations in satellite motion and estimate their val ues. The dominant term (approximately 10(-11) m/s2) is due to the inte raction between the Moon and the 2nd zonal harmonic of geopotential. I t is investigated thoroughly: the perturbing function is written, the evolutionary Lagrange equations are constructed, and the behaviour of the osculating elements is studied. In particular, we state the existe nce of long-period variations in all elements except for semimajor axi s, the periods being about 9,2 and 27,6 days.