Eli5: how does the James webb telescope orbit relate to the three body problem ..

Question

An article I read said we haven’t solved the three body problem and can’t predict the motion of 3 orbiting things in motion (2002 VE “Venus moon”) but we’ve been able to get the telescope to orbit just fine with itself the earth and the sun.. what’s the difference?

In: Physics

Answer 1

We can’t predict the orbits over a long period of time. All man made satellites need occasional small corrections to keep it in place. We can predict it’s orbit just fine day to day, but small drift will escalate over time.