Two-impulse coplanar transfer of minimal angular range at a given characteristic velocity
Abstract
The analysis deals with the transition of a point of variable mass along an ellipse from one elliptical orbit to another in a Newtonian gravitational field. Three equalities containing six variables are derived for constructing an arbitrary two-impulse transfer of the type under consideration. The inequalities are used to derive a closed system of equations describing coplanar orbital transfer of minimal angular range at a given value of the characteristic velocity. In the case of circular orbits, the system reduces to a single equation with one unknown. In a Hohmann characteristic velocity, the solution is a Hohmann ellipse.
- Publication:
-
Mechanics of Controlled Motion
- Pub Date:
- 1979
- Bibcode:
- 1979mcnl.rept..174S
- Keywords:
-
- Elliptical Orbits;
- Gravitational Fields;
- Orbital Mechanics;
- Trajectory Optimization;
- Transfer Orbits;
- Circular Orbits;
- Coplanarity;
- Mass Transfer;
- Astrodynamics