OPTIMUM INTERPLANETARY ROCKET FLIGHTS,

Abstract

Consideration is given to the problem of optimizing the flight of a vehicle sent from a circular orbit around Earth to a circular orbit around Mars. The vehicle is assumed to be powered by an ion engine. Since the thrust of the vehicle would be very small during the middle portion of the flight, an attempt is made to determine whether or not the same trajectory could be accomplished by turning off the motors during that portion.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 28, 1959
Accession Number
AD0607366

Entities

People

  • Lincoln Turner

Organizations

  • TRW Inc.

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Circular Orbits
  • Engines
  • Ion Engines
  • Motors
  • Orbits
  • Rockets
  • Trajectories

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris