THE PROBLEM OF COTANGENTIAL TRANSFER,

Abstract

Solution of the optimum cotangential transfer between two coplanar, noncoaxial, elliptical orbits is presented. The characteristic velocity is expressed explicitely in term of a single parameter. By optimizing this function with respect to the variable, a resultant equation which is a high order algebraic equation is obtained. Numerical solution can be calculated to the desired degree of accuracy. Exact analytical solutions are given for all special cases of the terminal conditions. Second order approximate solution which can be applied to a large range of missions (interplanetary transfer, transfer of a satellite from a parking orbit to a high energy elliptical orbit...) is derived and gives an excellent degree of accuracy (less than 1 ft/sec for the characteristic velocity and less than 30' for the position of transfer). (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0619028

Entities

People

  • Nguyen X. Vinh

Organizations

  • University of Colorado Boulder

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Elliptical Orbits
  • Energy
  • Equations
  • High Energy
  • New York
  • Orbits
  • Parking Orbits
  • Terminals

Readers

  • Linear Algebra
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris