All Questions
Tagged with orbital-mechanicsorbit
234 questions
2votes
1answer
92views
Lambert's problem without collisions
Given two fixed positions in space, a source of gravity and a time of flight to travel, the theory about Lambert's problem provides a way to calculate corresponding Keplerian orbital transfers. But, ...
- 173
17votes
4answers
4kviews
How would a spacecraft figure out its own orbit, without help from earth?
I was looking into this as a tangent while reading about Orbital Determination, but I can't seem to find any literature on the subject. I am trying to make my own solution but can't quite seem to ...
- 439
8votes
3answers
5kviews
Why can't spacecrafts remain in orbit forever?
I've heard a few times that certain spacecrafts can only stay in orbit until like 3 years or a certain time. Is this true? and if so, why?
- 2,493
-3votes
4answers
257views
Why do rockets keep going up instead of down or right or left into space? [closed]
Why can't the rockets go down or left or right to get to space if the earth is in the shape of a sphere?
2votes
0answers
90views
Orbit Design Tools/Software
Could you propose some Orbit Design tool or software? I expect it to give me an optimum orbit for a given criteria and limitations. For example, an orbit with maximum access over an specific point ...
1vote
1answer
110views
Customizing Molniya Orbit
I have two questions: What is the relation between longitude of molniya orbit and Keplerian elements? How to customize molniya orbit to maximize continuous access duration over an mid-latitude point ...
2votes
1answer
148views
How to find the velocity vector of a planet in orbit argument of periapsis or longitude of the ascending node?
Edit : This question has been answered. If anybody else creating a fictional planet has a similar question to mine, with a not-so-good understanding of orbital mechanics such as me, the answer should ...
0votes
0answers
27views
Issue in orbit propagator with wmm2020 output
I am trying to build an orbit propagator with input of latitude and longitude in wmm2020 to plot the magnitude of the geomagnetic field. The orbit seems good but the field plot is completely wrong. ...
5votes
1answer
566views
Does earth's revolving around sun affect polar orbit ground track?
As the earth revolves around the sun, does the ground track of a polar orbit change? I realize the oblateness of the earth causes precession of the nodes, I want to know if there's another effect. As ...
- 151
5votes
1answer
435views
What is the current state of the art in converting between mean and osculating orbital elements?
I want to implement algorithms to convert from mean to osculating elements, and vice versa. I've been digging through Vallado's text (fourth edition), and under ...
- 225
7votes
3answers
1kviews
What can one do as an individual to help support the development of skyhooks?
In my recent research on the potential of a SkyHook, I've found a startling gap: it seems like no one is actively pursuing this technology. Many, including myself, believe that this could be the ...
- 71
1vote
1answer
280views
MATLAB Simple Elliptical Orbits with J2 perturbation and drag
For some reason I need to build a Elliptical Orbits satellite dynamic model by myself, in here I am using MATALB. The model its fine before (I think the J2 effect part works well) I add drag effect on ...
3votes
1answer
764views
Vis-Viva equation applied to Earth
We know that the Vis-Viva equation is given by: $v=\sqrt{G M\left(\frac{2}{r}-\frac{1}{a}\right)}$ If I plug-in the values for Earth (the mass is obviously that of the Sun): $G=6.6743 \times 10^{-11} \...
- 141
1vote
1answer
133views
Equivalent Vis-Viva equation but for acceleration
I know that thanks to the Vis-Viva equation, knowing the elliptic parameter of a celestial orbiting object we can get its speed on any point of the orbit. But what about the acceleration? Is there an ...
- 141
11votes
5answers
2kviews
In circle orbit, give a delta V to a satellite, how to find final orbit altitude?
I think this is a very very simple question for me, but unfortunately I cant solve it... A satellite is orbiting in a circular path at an altitude of 600 kilometers. If the satellite is capable of ...
