Special Session 58: 

A Simplified Four-body Problem with Binary Asteroids

Nicole Havens
Brigham Young University
USA
Co-Author(s):    Dr. Lennard Bakker
Abstract:
We present a simplified four-body problem that allows for the gravitational interaction of binary asteroids. This model bridges the restricted three-body problem that NASA uses for designing space missions and the general four-body problem. We investigate the collinear relative equilibria and their linear stability in this simplified four-body problem through analytical and numerical methods.