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Orbital Mechanics Gen Solutions
Orbital Mechanics Gen Solutions
Orbital Plane
In the orbital plane, the position vector R and the velocity vector V specify the motion of the satellite,
(3-1)
Fg = universal gravitational force between bodies M, m = mass of the two bodies G = universal gravitational constant (6.67*10-11 Nm2/kg2) r = distance between the center of masses of the two bodies Fc = mV2/R (3-2)
The centrifugal force on the spacecraft is V = velocity of the spacecraft m = mass of the spacecraft
r = radius from the spacecraft center of mass to the central body center of mass For steady motion both forces must be balanced, therefore For circular orbits, Centrifugal force is balanced by Gravitational force, therefore V = (MG/R); MG = =398,600 km3/s2 Period (3-3), So V = (/R) P = 2 (R3/) (3-4) (3-5)
of any conic section, not just elliptical orbits. (Twobody motion is often called Keplerian motion) The sum of the potential energy and kinetic energy of the orbiting body per unit mass is a constant at all points in the orbit and is V2/2 - /R
Given r and V. the specific energy can be calculated from Eq. (3-7). With specific energy. the semimajor axis (a) can be obtained from Eq. (3-8). Given r, V and y, the magnitude of specific momentum (h) can be obtained from Eq. (313). With h and a, e can be obtained from Eq. (3-14). From the characteristics of the e, the orbit type can be determined (the Table). e and a define a conic orbit. Knowing these two elements and the orbit type, any other element can be obtained using relevant relations.
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Exercises (1)
An Earth satellite is in an orbit with a perigee altitude of 400 km and an eccentricity of 0.6. Find the following: (a) the perigee velocity (b) the apogee radius (c) the apogee velocity (d) the orbit period (e) the satellite velocity when its altitude is 3622 km (f) the true anomaly at altitude 3622 km (g) the path angle at altitude 3622 km
Exercises (2)
The LANDSAT C Earth resources satellite is in a near-polar, near-circular orbit with a perigee altitude of 917 km, an eccentricity of 0.00 132 and an inclination of 89.1 deg. What are the apogee altitude, the orbit period and the perigee velocity? Solution: 436.3 km, 1.726 h, 7.397 km/s. ============================================== Two radar fixes on an unidentified Earth orbiter yield the following positions: Altitude = 1545 km at a true anomaly of 126 deg Altitude = 852 km at a true anomaly of 58 deg What are the eccentricity, altitude of perigee and semi major axis of the spacecraft orbit?
Exercises (3)
The Magellan spacecraft was placed in an elliptical orbit around Venus with a periapsis altitude of 250 km and a period of 3.1 h. What is the apoapsis altitude? Solution: h = 7810 km. ================================== Consider an elliptical Earth orbit with a semi major axis of 12.500 km and an eccentricity of 0.472. What is the time from periapsis passage to a position with a true anomaly of 198 deg?