FAILURE MAP
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FA-69591 / Orbital propagation / Open access

J2 secular node and perigee drift: Sun-synchronous test ignores the precession direction · case 01

Prograde orbits that regress at 0.9856 deg/day are flagged sun-synchronous.

Verified by executionVariant 1 · 7 checks per implementationDownload source bundle ↓JSON ↗

ROOT CAUSE

The comparison takes the absolute value of the nodal rate.

THE FAILURE

The comparison takes the absolute value of the nodal rate.

Unsuccessful approach: Comparing the per-second rate with a per-day constant never matches.

Case contract

Input [a km, e, i deg, days]. With mu=398600.4418, Re=6378.137, J2=1.08263e-3, n=sqrt(mu/a^3), p=a(1-e^2): dRAAN/dt=-1.5 n J2 (Re/p)^2 cos i, dargp/dt=0.75 n J2 (Re/p)^2 (5cos^2 i-1). Return [RAAN drift deg, argp drift deg over the interval (rounded 4), sun-synchronous flag: |RAAN rate in deg/day - 0.9856|<0.01].

Why this case matters

Orbit determination and mission planning chain many small conversions; one wrong branch or unit silently moves a spacecraft by kilometres.

1 / The failure

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(x):
    a,e,i,days=x
    mu,Re,J2=398600.4418,6378.137,1.08263e-3
    n=math.sqrt(mu/a**3)
    p=a*(1-e*e)
    ci=math.cos(math.radians(i))
    fac=n*J2*(Re/p)**2
    dO=-1.5*fac*ci
    dw=0.75*fac*(5*ci*ci-1)
    t=days*86400
    sso=abs(abs(math.degrees(dO)*86400)-0.9856)<0.01
    return [round(math.degrees(dO*t),4),round(math.degrees(dw*t),4),sso]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1], [0.986, -3.1094, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1], [-4.2991, 3.2153, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10]', [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10], [-1.4793, 0.004, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3]', [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3], [-20.5825, 33.5103, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2]', [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2], [1.971, -7.0169, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5]', [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5], [-3.9523, -12.8241, False])], [('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2]', [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2], [1.971, -7.0169, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3]', [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3], [-20.5825, 33.5103, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5]', [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5], [-3.9523, -12.8241, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7]', [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7], [4.6102, 1.1525, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [42164.0, 0.0, 0.1, 30]', [42164.0, 0.0, 0.1, 30], [-0.4024, 0.8049, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5]', [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5], [-1.6264, 1.7251, False])], [('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1], [0.986, -3.1094, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7]', [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7], [4.6102, 1.1525, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [42164.0, 0.0, 0.1, 30]', [42164.0, 0.0, 0.1, 30], [-0.4024, 0.8049, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5]', [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5], [-1.6264, 1.7251, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1], [-4.2991, 3.2153, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10]', [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10], [-1.4793, 0.004, False])], [('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2]', [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2], [1.971, -7.0169, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5]', [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5], [-1.6264, 1.7251, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1], [0.986, -3.1094, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1], [-4.2991, 3.2153, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10]', [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10], [-1.4793, 0.004, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3]', [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3], [-20.5825, 33.5103, False])], [('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1], [0.986, -3.1094, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10]', [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10], [-1.4793, 0.004, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3]', [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3], [-20.5825, 33.5103, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2]', [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2], [1.971, -7.0169, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5]', [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5], [-3.9523, -12.8241, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7]', [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7], [4.6102, 1.1525, False])]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N-1]:
    check(label, solve(args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1][-0.986, -3.1094, True][-0.986, -3.1094, False]Failed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1][0.986, -3.1094, True][0.986, -3.1094, True]Passed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1][-4.2991, 3.2153, False][-4.2991, 3.2153, False]Passed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10][-1.4793, 0.004, False][-1.4793, 0.004, False]Passed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3][-20.5825, 33.5103, False][-20.5825, 33.5103, False]Passed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2][1.971, -7.0169, True][1.971, -7.0169, True]Passed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5][-3.9523, -12.8241, False][-3.9523, -12.8241, False]Passed

SHA-256 / aca1b9655e40a4e320d080e9b03aee1e49aed2363fe21d4787aa0a08dbd3e030

2 / The unsuccessful fix

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(x):
    a,e,i,days=x
    mu,Re,J2=398600.4418,6378.137,1.08263e-3
    n=math.sqrt(mu/a**3)
    p=a*(1-e*e)
    ci=math.cos(math.radians(i))
    fac=n*J2*(Re/p)**2
    dO=-1.5*fac*ci
    dw=0.75*fac*(5*ci*ci-1)
    t=days*86400
    sso=abs(math.degrees(dO)-0.9856)<0.01
    return [round(math.degrees(dO*t),4),round(math.degrees(dw*t),4),sso]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1], [0.986, -3.1094, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1], [-4.2991, 3.2153, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10]', [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10], [-1.4793, 0.004, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3]', [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3], [-20.5825, 33.5103, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2]', [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2], [1.971, -7.0169, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5]', [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5], [-3.9523, -12.8241, False])], [('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2]', [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2], [1.971, -7.0169, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3]', [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3], [-20.5825, 33.5103, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5]', [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5], [-3.9523, -12.8241, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7]', [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7], [4.6102, 1.1525, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [42164.0, 0.0, 0.1, 30]', [42164.0, 0.0, 0.1, 30], [-0.4024, 0.8049, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5]', [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5], [-1.6264, 1.7251, False])], [('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1], [0.986, -3.1094, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7]', [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7], [4.6102, 1.1525, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [42164.0, 0.0, 0.1, 30]', [42164.0, 0.0, 0.1, 30], [-0.4024, 0.8049, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5]', [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5], [-1.6264, 1.7251, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1], [-4.2991, 3.2153, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10]', [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10], [-1.4793, 0.004, False])], [('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2]', [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2], [1.971, -7.0169, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5]', [8000.0, 0.1, 45.0, 0.5], [-1.6264, 1.7251, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1], [0.986, -3.1094, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1], [-4.2991, 3.2153, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10]', [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10], [-1.4793, 0.004, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3]', [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3], [-20.5825, 33.5103, False])], [('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1], [-0.986, -3.1094, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1]', [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1], [0.986, -3.1094, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10]', [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10], [-1.4793, 0.004, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3]', [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3], [-20.5825, 33.5103, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2]', [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2], [1.971, -7.0169, True]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5]', [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5], [-3.9523, -12.8241, False]), ('j2 secular node and perigee drift [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7]', [12000.0, 0.3, 120.0, 7], [4.6102, 1.1525, False])]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N-1]:
    check(label, solve(args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 81.81, 1][-0.986, -3.1094, False][-0.986, -3.1094, False]Passed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 98.19, 1][0.986, -3.1094, False][0.986, -3.1094, True]Failed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7078.0, 0.001, 51.6, 1][-4.2991, 3.2153, False][-4.2991, 3.2153, False]Passed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [26560.0, 0.74, 63.4, 10][-1.4793, 0.004, False][-1.4793, 0.004, False]Passed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7000.0, 0.2, 28.5, 3][-20.5825, 33.5103, False][-20.5825, 33.5103, False]Passed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [6878.0, 0.0, 97.4, 2][1.971, -7.0169, False][1.971, -7.0169, True]Failed
j2 secular node and perigee drift [7500.0, 0.05, 82.0, 5][-3.9523, -12.8241, False][-3.9523, -12.8241, False]Passed

SHA-256 / cb4696bab294a79bac033c28fa241e0fa6bfbf25a36605218c6b5536d43cde5d

HELD IN THE MEMBER ARCHIVE

The verified repair and its recorded checks are member-only.

This mechanism has 7 recorded checks per implementation. The open-access tier publishes the failure and the unsuccessful fix; the repaired source that passes every check, and the observations that prove it, are available to members.

Every case sharing this mechanism uses the same contract and the same repair, so this one record is held back for all of them.

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Verification & scope

A deterministic toy two-body model with stipulated constants and conventions; not flight dynamics software or a validated SGP4 implementation. This reproducer isolates one failure mechanism. Results cover the supplied fixtures. Variants within a family share a test contract and should remain grouped when constructing evaluation splits. Related mechanisms with a shared evaluation_group must also remain together; these controlled models are not independent production incidents.

Observations recorded using Python 3.12.14 at 2026-09-29T14:48:12.799259+00:00.

Case digest / 3d112e871d08ff1a7c7a8897f14bad06f1a8c37df3eb0644270cc94ae205e5a9