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Judhistira Aria Utama, M.Si. Lab. Bumi & Antariksa Jurusan Pendidikan Fisika FPMIPA - UPI
Source: Astronomy: Principles and Practice, A.E. Roy & D. Clark, 4th Edition
Elliptic Orbit
Then the line AA is the major axis of the ellipse, C is the centre and, therefore, CA and CA are the semi-major axes. Likewise BB is the minor axis, with CB and CB the semiminor axes. If a and b denote the lengths of the semi-major and semi-minor axes respectively, then
Let VP & VA be the velocities at perihelion A and aphelion A respectively. We may write:
V = r
where is the angular velocity.
From Keplers second law: r 2 = h Hence, at perihelion and aphelion only, we have V =h/r For perihelion: VP =h/a(1 e) For aphelion:
VA =h/a(1 + e)
= G(M + m)
Transfer between circular, coplanar orbits about the Sun (Hohmann Transfer)
The semi-major axis, , of the transfer orbit. From previous figure, it can be seen that: AB = 2 = a1 + a2 Hence,
= (a1 + a2) / 2
The eccentricity, e, of the transfer orbit. SA = a1 = (1 e)
SB = a2 = (1 + e)
Hence, e = (a2 a1) / (a2 + a1)
The transfer time, , spent in the transfer orbit. In this case: =GMCentral Body The velocity increments VA and VB. At A, the required increment VA is the difference between circular velocity Vc1 in the inner orbit and perihelion velocity VP in the transfer orbit. VA = VP Vc1, since VP > Vc1 or
At B, the required increment VB is the difference between circular velocity Vc2 in the outer orbit and aphelion velocity VA in the transfer orbit. VB = Vc2 VA, since Vc2 > VA
or
Orbital Transfer
Going from a low orbit to higher
Rendezvous
In rendezvous problem, only the rst of the two impulses was required since there was no need to inject the payload into another orbits. In the transfer between circular and coplanar orbit, the rst burn could be made at any time. But, in the rendezvous problem a time table has to be kept,dictated by the necessity that when the vehicle reaches aphelion in the transfer orbit, the particle moving in the outer circular orbit should also be there.
Let two particles P1 and P2 revolve in coplanar orbits of radii a1 and a2 about a body of mass M. Let their longitudes, measured from some reference direction be l10 and l20 at time t0. The problem is to obtain the time conditions enabling a vehicle to leave particle P1 and arrive at particle P2 by a Hohmann cotangential ellipse.
The angular velocities of the two particles are n1 and n2, given by:
Remember that
or
So that we have
Now the longitude of P1 when the vehicle leaves that body is radians less than the longitude of P2 when the vehicle arrives. Thus, the longitude of the particles at the vehicle departure time must differ by ( ) radians, or L12, given by
If the value of L12 is inserted in the left-hand side of equation above, the time t can be calculated.
For a return of the vehicle from P2 to P1, the transfer time will be the same as on the outward journey and the angle between the radius vector of P1 when the vehicle departs and that of the arrival point in P1s orbit must be given by
If P1 is radians ahead of P2 when a transfer from P1 to P2 has just ended, the rst available transfer back from P2 to P1 will begin when P1 is radians behind P2. Hence, if S is the synodic period of the two particles,
(If b is positive)
Alternatively, if P1 were radians behind P2 when an outward transfer (P1 to P2) has just ended, the rst available return from P2 to P1 can begin when P1 has reached a point radians ahead of P2. And in this case,
(If b is negative)
Lunar Capture
When spacecraft approaches, it starts falling towards planet. Must retrofire to be captured in orbit. Better to approach planet from same direction of travel.
Hohmann transfer is most efficient but takes a long time and only during operating windows. Fast transfer is very expensive.