continuous thrust inclination change trajectory

2010-09-25 15:43:55
continuous thrust inclination change trajectory
In the impulsive regime this would only take a single intense burn. However, if you don't have a massive engine (perhaps instead an ion drive or an even wimpier solar sail), there is a simple control law to follow to spread the effort out over as many orbits as you need. This is a simulation of a spacecraft with a weak, constant-force drive following this control law.
sailbox
533 views · 0 faves · CC BY 2.0
Original Flickr page