Optimal cotangential orbital transfer maneuvers

Abstract EN

In this paper, optimal two impulses cotangential orbital transfer maneuvers is developed for which : 1.

Both the inner and transfer orbits are of arbitrary shapes (circular, elliptic, parabolic or hyperbolic).

2.

The two impulses are applied tangentially at two general points 12 r and r not necessarily to be applied at the apsides.

The solution of the problem is thus ; the determination of, the semimajor axis at and the eccentricity eT of the transfer orbit, and the total impulse for the complete two impulse transfer at r1 and r2 which gives minimum velocity increment.

Some numerical applications are also included.