Local manifolds and periodic orbits around equilibrium points of the rotating mass dipole

The rotating mass dipole is the subject of this paper as a generalization of the classical restricted three-body problem. Due to its various applications, the vicinal dynamical properties of the dipole model will be investigated, including the topological classification of its libration points, local manifolds and periodic orbits around these libration points. After introducing the equilibria of the dipole model, linearized equations of motion relative to these equilibria are derived. Analytical expressions for the relative motion in the first order are also presented with respect to some representative libration points. Sample orbits around the elongated comet 103P/Hartley 2 are illustrated to validate the theoretical analysis about the dipole model.