Periodic solutions and stability of a tethered satellite system

In this paper, several criteria on the existence of periodic solutions for a tethered satellite system (TSS) in an elliptical orbit, as well as the uniqueness of periodic solutions for the TSS in a circular orbit are presented on the basis of coincidence degree theory. In addition, the conditions on the global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium states for the TSS are also addressed in accordance with the Lyapunov stability theory and Barbashin–Krasovski theory.