The gyroscopic stability of the triangular stationary solutions of the generalized planar three-body problem

The gyroscopic stability of the triangular solutions is investigated for th e generalized planar three-body problem (point masses) which differs from t he classical three-body problem by the addition of a weightless elastic tet her connecting two of the three bodies. It is shown that, when the tether h as low stiffness and the masses of the connected bodies are substantially d ifferent, the triangular motions are stable for any values of the remaining parameters of the system. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.