The Gravitational Perturbation Spectrum in Linear Satellite Theory

A new method for calculating the perturbation spectrum in the framework of Kaula's linear satellite theory (LST) is introduced. The novelty of this approach consists in using recent results on the spectral decomposition of the perturbation frequencies in LST to provide a closed formulation for the amplitude and the phase of each line in the perturbation spectrum. The theory presented here can be applied to perturbations in the elements or in the radial and transverse directions due to the geopotential or to the tides. Separate algorithms are developed for application to orbits with circulating or frozen perigee.