Questions tagged [low-energy-transfer]
Questions on trajectories that allow spacecraft to change orbits using very little fuel.
45 questions
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Calculation of a rendezvous from an elliptical orbit to another [duplicate]
I am familiar with computing rendezvous maneuvers using a Hohmann transfer when the two orbits are circular. However, when both orbits are highly elliptical, the fairly simple calculations with a ...
9votes
2answers
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Does a Lunar Cycler make practical sense?
I know that a Mars Cycler has many advantages due to the distance involved, but what about a Lunar Cycler? From what I've seen, the time window seems relatively short, and docking with a cycler ...
3votes
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How are Interplanetary Transport Network/Weak Stability Boundary paths calculated?
While reading up a bit online, I found out about Weak Stability Boundaries and the Interplanetary transport network. How is this "path" that traverses the Solar System determined? I am aware ...
4votes
1answer
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How would one identify ionic thrust vs chemical thrust in an orbit transfer?
My nomenclature might be a bit off, I’m no expert but I’ve been reading to solve the question all the same. Say we detect an orbit transfer based off ephemeris records. We can get the 6 classic orbit ...
7votes
2answers
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How high did Philae bounce?
The Philae lander bounced off 67P/C-G due to low gravity, but how high did it actually bounce?
5votes
3answers
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Are there any paths in the Interplanetary Transport Network that leave the solar system?
As a (very late) follow up to this question, I wondered if there are any ITN paths that leave the solar system altogether? Articles about this seem to be concerned with low energy transfers of ...
4votes
1answer
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To go from LEO to LLO describe a Bi-elliptic/Hohmann transfer burn sequence?
Being a newbie, I humbly submit the following question : How to minimize the energy (in terms of delta-v burns) to transfer a mass of 1 metric ton (1000kg) from Very Low Earth Orbit (say 200km above ...
5votes
1answer
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Are there any studies about "ping pong" cyclers between gas giants?
Imagine arriving at Saturn, jettisoning your passenger cargo, and then utilizing the massive gravitational pull of the gas giant to slingshot back towards Jupiter. Due to the immense mass of these ...
2votes
0answers
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What is the substantial difference between transit orbits and manifold trajectories in the frame of circular restricted three body problem?
In my MSc thesis I faced the problem of unstable hyperbolic invariant manifold trajectories (UHIMs) emanating from planar Lyapunov orbits around two collinear Lagrange points L1 and L2 of the Sun-...
5votes
2answers
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Would it be practical to fly a probe to Mars using gravitational assistance from Venus?
I decided to fly to Mars in KSP using a slingshot of Venus to see if I could save fuel. Since Venus is closer to Earth, you need less fuel to get there. When I tested it I used less fuel, but the ...
2votes
0answers
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What is this figure I have obtained from this MATLAB code around Earth-Moon Lagrange point 2?
This is part of the code I used, where EM: Earth moon ...
3votes
1answer
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Which spacecraft have entered lunar orbit through L1?
I'm examining entering lunar orbit through the Earth-Moon L1 point with low-thrust propulsion. As part of this, I'm interested in all examples of spacecraft (both actually flown and ones that didn't ...
6votes
1answer
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Why does the Buzz Aldrin Mars Cycler not play a larger role in planning for Mars exploration?
In 1985 Buzz Aldrin AKA “Dr. Rendezvous” proposed using a pair of space station habitats in solar cycler orbits as “Up and Down Escalators” for crewed Earth-Mars transfers. https://en.wikipedia.org/...
4votes
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Is there a known solution for optimal impulsive transfer between two arbitrary elliptical orbits?
If not, what optimization methods or tools do people use? (Code libraries?)
2votes
1answer
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Travel time from lunar orbit (EML2) to Jupiter using skyhook only?
I am doing background research for a science fiction story, and hoping someone can help with this navigational question. Voyager 2 reached Jupiter from Earth in about 2 years. However (if I understand ...