Dynamics of an axisymmetric gyrostat satellite. Equilibrium positions and their stability

The dynamics of an axisymmetric gyrostat satellite in a circular orbit in the central Newtonian force field is investigated. All the equilibrium positions of the gyrostat satellite in the orbital system of coordinates are determined, and the conditions for their existence are analysed. All the bifurcation values of the system parameters at which the number of equilibrium positions changes are found. It is shown that, depending on the values of the parameters of the problem, the number of equilibrium positions of a gyrostat satellite can be 8, 12 or 16. The evolution of regions where the sufficient conditions for stability of the equilibrium positions hold is investigated.