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  2. Orbital mechanics - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_mechanics

    To escape the Solar System from a location at a distance from the Sun equal to the distance Sun–Earth, but not close to the Earth, requires around 42 km/s velocity, but there will be "partial credit" for the Earth's orbital velocity for spacecraft launched from Earth, if their further acceleration (due to the propulsion system) carries them ...

  3. Spacecraft flight dynamics - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft_flight_dynamics

    A space vehicle's flight is determined by application of Newton's second law of motion: =, where F is the vector sum of all forces exerted on the vehicle, m is its current mass, and a is the acceleration vector, the instantaneous rate of change of velocity (v), which in turn is the instantaneous rate of change of displacement.

  4. Atmospheric entry - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_entry

    The five species model is only usable for entry from low Earth orbit where entry velocity is approximately 7.8 km/s (28,000 km/h; 17,000 mph). For lunar return entry of 11 km/s, [23] the shock layer contains a significant amount of ionized nitrogen and oxygen. The five-species model is no longer accurate and a twelve-species model must be used ...

  5. Free-return trajectory - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-return_trajectory

    Sketch of a circumlunar free return trajectory (not to scale), plotted on the rotating reference frame rotating with the moon. (Moon's motion only shown for clarity) In orbital mechanics, a free-return trajectory is a trajectory of a spacecraft traveling away from a primary body (for example, the Earth) where gravity due to a secondary body (for example, the Moon) causes the spacecraft to ...

  6. Orbital state vectors - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_state_vectors

    Orbital position vector, orbital velocity vector, other orbital elements. In astrodynamics and celestial dynamics, the orbital state vectors (sometimes state vectors) of an orbit are Cartesian vectors of position and velocity that together with their time () uniquely determine the trajectory of the orbiting body in space.

  7. Lambert's problem - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambert's_problem

    By comparing the initial and the final velocity vector of this heliocentric Kepler orbit with corresponding velocity vectors for the Earth and Mars a quite good estimate of the required launch energy and of the maneuvers needed for the capture at Mars can be obtained. This approach is often used in conjunction with the patched conic approximation.

  8. Orbital maneuver - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_maneuver

    The trajectories that enabled NASA's twin Voyager spacecraft to tour the four gas giant planets and achieve velocity to escape our solar system In astrodynamics a gravity assist maneuver, gravitational slingshot or swing-by is the use of the relative movement and gravity of a planet or other celestial body to alter the trajectory of a ...

  9. Delta-v - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta-v

    Delta-v (also known as "change in velocity"), symbolized as and pronounced /dɛltə viː/, as used in spacecraft flight dynamics, is a measure of the impulse per unit of spacecraft mass that is needed to perform a maneuver such as launching from or landing on a planet or moon, or an in-space orbital maneuver.