Lagrange point colonization

Lagrange point colonization is a proposed form of space colonization^[1] of the five equilibrium points in the orbit of a planet or its primary moon, called Lagrange points.

A diagram showing the five Lagrange points in a two-body system, with one body far more massive than the other (e.g. Earth and Moon). In this system L₃–L₅ will appear to share the secondary's orbit, although they are situated slightly outside it.

The Lagrange points L₄ and L₅ are stable if the mass of the larger body is at least 25 times the mass of the secondary body.^[2][3] Thus, the points L₄ and L₅ in the Earth–Moon system have been proposed as possible sites for space colonies.^[4][5] The L5 Society was founded to promote settlement by building space stations at these points.

See also

• Interplanetary Transport Network
• Lissajous orbit

References

1. Dorminey, Bruce (July 31, 2012). "Death Of A Sci-Fi Dream: Free-Floating Space Colonies Hit Economic Reality". Forbes. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
2. Fitzpatrick, Richard. "Stability of Lagrange Points". Newtonian Dynamics. University of Texas.
3. Greenspan, Thomas (January 7, 2014). "Stability of the Lagrange Points, L4 and L5" (PDF).
4. O'Neill, Gerard K. (September 1974). "The colonization of space". Physics Today. 27 (9): 32–40. doi:10.1063/1.3128863. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
5. "The Lagrangian Points L4 and L5". pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved June 7, 2021.

External links

• Dictionary Definition
• European Space Agency
• Free Mars
• Orbital Vector
• NASA - The Moon and the Magnetotail