All Questions
Tagged with orbital-mechanicsorbital-maneuver
200 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
13votes
5answers
3kviews
What are the use cases and challenges for a cubesat that would take pictures of other satellites?
I am currently working with a university team in designing a cubesat. I would like to propose to the team that we design a satellite that is able to take pictures of other satellites orbiting nearby. ...
3votes
0answers
76views
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 ...
- 59
12votes
2answers
4kviews
Am I actually escaping Earth?
I am writing a hard-SF story where a spacecraft gets into an highly elliptical earth orbit, having its perigee at 400km but its apogee at 32 000 km (to get close to the asteroid Apophis when it ...
- 123
4votes
1answer
160views
GMAT Lambert problem
I would like to plan a mission in GMAT to a certain asteroid, whose orbit and SPK file I have added in GMAT. However, I don't know how to solve the Lambert problem in it to first find the intersection ...
0votes
0answers
276views
Is it possible to have a closed(-ish) natural motion circumnavigation around an eccentric target? If so, what parameters define the NMC orbit?
Natural motion circumnavigation (NMC) is when a chaser spacecraft is set in an orbit similar to a target spacecraft's such that the chaser naturally circumnavigates the target spacecraft as a result ...
- 1,059
7votes
1answer
2kviews
Using Mars' inner moon Phobos as a brake
In case of a StarShip (but it could be any other lander), it would arrive a Mars with minimal fuel remaining and it would need to slowdown for reentry, how can it be slowed down for free? Maybe using ...
- 421
4votes
1answer
356views
Is it possible to change a satellite's eccentricity without changing semimajor axis (instantaneous maneuver paradigm)? What else needs to "give"?
I've been wondering whether it's possible to change a satellite's eccentricity without changing its semi-major axis. (I'm assuming instantaneous changes in velocity.) At first I thought that this ...
- 1,059
8votes
2answers
1kviews
At which direction do you apply thrust to perform an inclination change maneuver?
Assume that the vehicle is already at the orbital node. No combined plane changes are included. At which direction is the thrust applied to do an inclination change maneuver? So far, Google hasn't ...
8votes
1answer
566views
What Δv is needed to reach LEO from a space elevator?
In two recent questions about space elevators, the topic of reaching non-geostationary orbits came up, particularly the popular Low Earth Orbits. This question is simply about how hard exactly it is ...
- 3,970
5votes
1answer
328views
What is the delta V required to access a polar lunar orbit?
The general reference figure (I use) for entering a low lunar orbit (polar included) is ~900 m/s, which is roughly what was set out in previous questions. However NASA released this white paper which ...
- 4,293
4votes
1answer
201views
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 ...
- 149
0votes
0answers
136views
I want to write a program to calculate optimal trajectories, where can I find info on the maths
I want to write a program to calculate the optimal way for a spacecraft with a given engine to reach some body astronomical body with the minimum fuel burn (possibly adding in constraints on time, ...
- 509
7votes
1answer
300views
When you burn retrograde, will you reach periapsis sooner or later?
Say you have two spacecraft in identical orbits. Say at a point after apoapsis and before periapsis one of the spacecraft burns retrograde to lower its periapsis, and the other spacecraft does nothing ...
2votes
1answer
251views
How often does a CubeSat leverage its ADCS?
I'm wondering how often an Earth observation-focused CubeSat (6U - 27U) would leverage its onboard Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS). Would it be employing its ADCS to optimize every ...
