LUNAR TRAJECTORIES

Abstract

A CATALOG OF COAST PATHS ETWEEN THE Earth and the Moon is presented, accounting for three-dimensional factors but neglecting multib dy effects. Flight times, velocity increments, and launch azimuths are given for various positions of the Moon and various injection points in the northern hemisphere. The distance c vered during powered flight is found to have an important effect on the mission energy requirements. The effect of flight-path angle at burnout is studied; nonhorizontal burnout is often advantageous. The effect of launching from an Earth orbit, rather than directly from the surface, is discussed. Because precession may cause an unfavorable orientation of the orbital plane, departure from a permanent space station is usually undesirable. T e velocity ired landing location. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0261105

Entities

People

  • Richard J. Weber
  • Richard R. Burley
  • Werner M. Pauson

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accounting
  • Ascent Trajectories
  • Determinants (Mathematics)
  • Earth Orbits
  • Flight
  • Flight Paths
  • Hemispheres
  • Launching
  • Lunar Trajectories
  • Northern Hemisphere
  • Orbits
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Position Finding
  • Space Stations
  • Three Dimensional
  • Trajectories

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Fluid Dynamics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Orbital Debris