enow.com Web Search

Search results

  1. Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
  2. Orbital mechanics - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_mechanics

    From a circular orbit, thrust applied in a direction opposite to the satellite's motion changes the orbit to an elliptical one; the satellite will descend and reach the lowest orbital point (the periapse) at 180 degrees away from the firing point; then it will ascend back. The period of the resultant orbit will be less than that of the original ...

  3. Specific orbital energy - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_orbital_energy

    The International Space Station has an orbital period of 91.74 minutes (5504 s), hence by Kepler's Third Law the semi-major axis of its orbit is 6,738 km. [citation needed] The specific orbital energy associated with this orbit is −29.6 MJ/kg: the potential energy is −59.2 MJ/kg, and the kinetic energy 29.6 MJ/kg.

  4. Orbit modeling - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbit_modeling

    Orbit modeling is the process of creating mathematical models to simulate motion of a massive body as it moves in orbit around another massive body due to gravity. Other forces such as gravitational attraction from tertiary bodies, air resistance , solar pressure , or thrust from a propulsion system are typically modeled as secondary effects.

  5. 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.

  6. Vis-viva equation - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vis-viva_equation

    In astrodynamics, the vis-viva equation is one of the equations that model the motion of orbiting bodies.It is the direct result of the principle of conservation of mechanical energy which applies when the only force acting on an object is its own weight which is the gravitational force determined by the product of the mass of the object and the strength of the surrounding gravitational field.

  7. Clohessy–Wiltshire equations - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clohessy–Wiltshire_equations

    Early results about relative orbital motion were published by George William Hill in 1878. [3] Hill's paper discussed the orbital motion of the moon relative to the Earth.. In 1960, W. H. Clohessy and R. S. Wiltshire published the Clohessy–Wiltshire equations to describe relative orbital motion of a general satellite for the purpose of designing control systems to achieve orbital rendezvous.

  8. Orbit - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbit

    An animation showing a low eccentricity orbit (near-circle, in red), and a high eccentricity orbit (ellipse, in purple). In celestial mechanics, an orbit (also known as orbital revolution) is the curved trajectory of an object [1] such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an object or position in space such ...

  9. Orbital maneuver - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_maneuver

    A low energy transfer, or low energy trajectory, is a route in space which allows spacecraft to change orbits using very little fuel. [ 10 ] [ 11 ] These routes work in the Earth - Moon system and also in other systems, such as traveling between the satellites of Jupiter .