Solutions Manual

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

Chapter 6

Problem 6.24 (a) With a single delta-v maneuver, the earth orbit of a satellite is to be changed from a
circle of radius 15 000 km to a collinear ellipse with perigee altitude of 500 km and apogee radius of 22000
km. Calculate the magnitude of the required delta-v and the change in the flight path angle .
(b) What is the minimum total delta-v if the orbit change is accomplished instead by a Hohmann transfer?
3
vA

v
2

15 000 km

A
2

vA

2
1

Common apse
line

Earth

22 000 km

6878 km

Solution
rA = rC = rE = 15 000 km

rB = 22 000 km

rD = 6878 km

(a)
Orbit 1:

vA =
1

=
rA

398 600
= 5.155 km s
15 000

A1 = 0
Orbit 2:

r r
22 000 6878
e2 = B D =
= 0.5237
rB + rD 22 000 + 6878
h2 = 2

rB rD
22 000 6878
= 2 398 600
= 64 630 km 2 s
rB + rD
22 000 + 6878

At the maneuvering point A:

h 2
1
rA = 2
1 + e2 cos A
15 000 =

64 630 2
1
A = 125.1
398 600 1 + 0.5237 cos A

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Solutions Manual

vA

vA

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

) = rA2 = 15 000 = 4.309 km s

64 630

Chapter 6

)r = h2 e2 sin A =

398 600
0.5237 sin 125.1 = 2.641 km s
64 630

)2

vA = vA
+ vA
= 4.309 2 + 2.6412 = 5.054 km s
2
2
2 r
vA
2.641
2 r
A = tan 1
= tan 1
= 0.5499 A = 31.51
2
2
vA
4.309
2

)
)

A = A A = 31.51 0 = 31.51
2
1

vA = vA 2 + vA 2 2vA vA cos A = 5.155 2 + 5.054 2 25.1555.054 cos A = 2.773 km s T

1
2
1
2
(b)
Try Hohmann transfer (orbit 3) from point E on orbit 1 to point B on orbit 2.

rE rB
15 000 22 000
= 2 398 600
= 84 320 km 2 s
rE + rB
15 000 + 22 000

h3 = 2

vE = vA = 5.155 km s
1
1
h
84 320
vE = 3 =
= 5.621 km s
3
rE 15 000
h
84 320
vB = 3 =
= 3.833 km s
3
rB 22 000
h
64 630
vB = 2 =
= 2.938 km s
2
rB 22 000
vtotal = vE vE + vB vB = 0.4665 + 0.985 = 1.362 km s
3
1
2
3
Try Hohmann transfer (orbit 4) from point C on orbit 1 to point D on orbit 2.

15 000 6878
rC rD
= 2 398 600
= 61 310 km 2 s
rC + rD
15 000 + 6878

h4 = 2

vC = vA = 5.155 km s
1

h
61 310
vC = 4 =
= 4.088 km s
4
rC 15 000
h
61 310
vD = 4 =
= 8.914 km s
4
rD
6878
h
64 630
vD = 2 =
= 9.397 km s
4
rD
6878
vtotal = vC vC + vD vD = 1.067 + 0.4824 = 1.55 km s
4
1
2
4
This is larger than the total computed above; thus for minimum Hohmann transfer
v = 1.362 km s

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Solutions Manual

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

Chapter 6

Problem 6.25 An earth satellite has a perigee altitude of 1270 km and a perigee speed of 9 km/s. It is
required to change its orbital eccentricity to 0.4, without rotating the apse line, by a delta-v maneuver at
= 100 . Calculate the magnitude of the required v and the change in flight path angle .

Solution
Orbit 1:
rperigee = 6378 + 1270 = 7648 km
1

vperigee = 9 km s
1

h1 = rperigee vperigee = 7648 9 = 68 832 km 2 s

1

rperigee =
1

7648 =

h1
1
1 + e1

68 8322 1
e1 = 0.5542
398 600 1 + e1

At the maneuver point, = 100 .

68 832 2
h12
1
1
=
= 13 150 km
1 + e1 cos 398 600 1 + 0.5542 cos100
68 832
h
v1 = 1 =
= 5.234 km s
r
13150

r=

v1 r =

398600
e sin =
0.5542 sin 100 = 3.16 km s
h1 1
68 832

v1 = v1 2 + v1r 2 = 5.234 2 + 3.16 2 = 6.114 km s

1 = tan 1

v1r
3.16
= tan 1
= 31.13
v1
5.234

Orbit 2:
e2 = 0.4

h2
1
r= 2
1 + e 2 cos
h22
1
h2 = 69 840 km 2 s
398 600 1 + 0.4 cos100
69 840
h
v2 = 2 =
= 5.311 km s
r
13150

13150 =

v2 r =

398600
e2 sin =
0.4 sin 100 = 2.248 km s
h2
69 840

v2 = v 2 2 + v2 r 2 = 5.3112 + 2.248 2 = 5.767 km s

2 = tan 1

Howard D. Curtis

v2 r
1 2.248
= tan
= 22.94
v2
5.767

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Solutions Manual

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

Chapter 6

= 2 1 = 22.94 31.13 = 8.181

v = v12 + v2 2 2v1 v2 cos = 6.114 2 + 5.767 2 2 6.114 5.767 cos ( 8.181) = 0.9155 km s

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Solutions Manual

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

Chapter 6

Problem 6.29 At point A on its earth orbit, the radius, speed and flight path angle of a satellite are
rA = 12 756 km , vA = 6.5992 km/s and A = 20 . At point B, at which the true anomaly is 150, an
impulsive maneuver causes v = +0.75820 km/s and vr = 0 .
(a) What is the time of flight from A to B?
(b) What is the rotation of the apse line as a result of this maneuver?

2
B

P2

A
150

P1

Solution
Orbit 1:
vA

= vA cos A = 6.5992 cos 20 = 6.20122 km s

h1 = rA vA = 12 756 6.20122 = 79102.8 km 2 s

vA = vA sin A = 6.5992 sin 20 = 2.25706 km s

r
vA =
r

e sin A
h1 1

2.25706 =

398 600
e sin A
79102.8 1

e1 sin A = 0.447917

h2
1
rA = 1
1 + e1 cos A
12 756 =

79102.8 2
1
398 600 1 + e1 cos A

e1 cos A = 0.230641

e12 sin 2 A + cos2 A = 0.447917 2 + 0.2306412

e12 = 0.253825

sin A =

e1 = 0.50381

0.447917
= 0.889 058
0.50381

A = 62.755 2 or A = 117.235

Since cos A > 0 , A = 62.755 2 .

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Solutions Manual

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

Chapter 6

The period of orbit 1 is

h1
2
2
1 e 2
1

T1 =

2
=
398 600 2

79102.8

1 0.503812

= 30 368.2 s

The eccentric anomaly at point A of orbit 1 is

1 e

1 0.50381
62.7552
1 tan A = 2 tan 1
EA = 2 tan 1
tan

= 0.67392
2
2
1 + 0.50381

1 + e1
From Keplers equation, the corresponding mean anomaly is

MA = EA e1 sin EA = 0.67392 0.50381sin 0.67392 = 0.35951

Therefore, the time since perigee passage is

tA =

MA
0.35951
T1 =
30 368 = 1737.6 s
2
2

At point B the eccentric anomaly is

1 e

1 0.50381
150
1 tan B = 2 tan 1
EB = 2 tan 1
tan

= 2.2687
2
2
1 + 0.50381
1 + e1
Thus

MB = EB e1 sin EB = 2.2687 0.50381sin 2.2687 = 1.8826

and

tB =

MB
1.8826
T1 =
30368 = 9099.2 s
2
2

It follows that the time of flight from A to B is

tof = tB tA = 9099.2 1737.6 = 7361.6 s = 2.045 hr

(b)

h2
79102.8 2
1
1
rB = 1
=
= 27 848.9 km
1 + e1 cos B
398 600 1 + 0.50381cos150

(1)

vB

vB

)1 = rB1 = 27 848.9 = 2.84043 km s

79102.8

)1 = h1 e1 sin B

(2)

398 600
0.50381 sin 150 = 1.26945 km s
79102.8

vB = 0.75820 km s

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(3)
(4)

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Solutions Manual

Chapter 6

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

vBr = 0

(5)

vBr ) = vBr ) + vBr = 1.26945 + 0 = 1.26945 km s

2

(6)

According to Equation 6.18b

( )=

tan B

vB

v
B

) + v
1

) + v

v
Br

) + v
1

e cos + 2 v
B1
1
B

Br

vB

rB
+ vB

Substituting Equations (1) through (5) above yields

( )

tan B =
2

( 2.8404 + 0.7582) (1.2694 + 0)

2.8404 2
( 2.8404 + 0.7582)2 0.50381 cos150 + ( 2 2.8404 + 0.7582) 398 600 27 849

( ) = 3.3521

tan B

B = 73.389 or 106.612
2

According to Equation (6) above, the spacecraft is flying away from perigee on orbit 2, so 0 B 180 .
2

Therfore,

B = 106.612
2

This means

= 150 106.612 = 43.3877

That is, the apse line is rotated 43.387 7 ccw from that of orbit 1.

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Solutions Manual

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

Chapter 6

Problem 6.40 With a single impulsive maneuver, an earth satellite changes from a 400 km circular orbit
inclined at 60 to an elliptical orbit of eccentricity e = 0.5 with an inclination of 40. Calculate the
minimum required delta-v.

Solution
For the circular orbit

v1 =

=
r

398 600
= 7.668 km s
6778

Assume the maneuver is done at apogee of the ellipse (orbit 2).

h 2 1
r= 2
1 e2
6778 =

h2 2
1
h2 = 36 750 km 2 s
398 600 1 0.5

Then

rperigee =

36 7502
h2 2 1
1
=
= 2259 km
1 + e2 398 600 1 + 0.5

which is inside the earth. So the maneuver cannot occur at apogee. Assume it occurs at perigee.

r=
6778 =

h2
1
1 + e2
h22
1
h2 = 63 660 km 2 s
398 600 1 + 0.5

63 660
h
v2 = 2 =
= 9.392 km s
r
6778

v = v12 + v2 2 2v1 v2 cos = 7.668 2 + 9.392 2 2 7.668 9.392 cos = 3.414 km s

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Solutions Manual

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

Chapter 6

Problem 6.44 A spacecraft is in a 300 km circular parking orbit. It is desired to increase the altitude to
600 km and change the inclination by 20. Find the total delta-v required if
(a) The plane change is made after insertion into the 600 km orbit (so that there are a total of three
delta-v burns).
(b) If the plane change and insertion into the 600 km orbit are accomplished simultaneously (so
that the total number of delta-v burns is two).
(c) The plane change is made upon departing the lower orbit (so that the total number of delta-v
burns is two).

Solution
The initial and target orbits are 1 and 2, respectively, and 3 is the transfer orbit.

r1 = 6678 km

=
r1

v1 =

398 600
= 7.726 km s
6678

r2 = 6978 km

=
r2

v2 =

a3 =

398 600
= 7.558 km s
6978

r1 + r2 6678 + 6978
=
= 6828 km
2
2

1
2 1
2
vperigee = = 398 600

= 7.810 km s
6678 6828
3
r1 a3
1
1
2
2
vapogee = = 398 600

= 7.474 km s

3
6978 6828
r2 a3
(a)

i
v = vperigee v1 + v2 vapogee + 2 v2 sin
3
3
2
20
= ( 7.810 7.726 ) + ( 7.558 7.474 ) + 2 7.558 sin
2
= 0.0844 + 0.083 48 + 2.625 = 2.793 km s

) (

(b)

v = vperigee v1 + vapogee
3

2
3

+ v2 2 2vapogee v2 cos i
3

= ( 7.810 7.726 ) + 7.474 2 + 7.588 2 2 7.474 7.558 cos 20

= 0.0844 + 2.612 = 2.696 km s
(c)

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Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students Second Edition

v = vperigee 2 + v12 2vperigee v1 cos i + v2 vapogee

3

Chapter 6

= 7.812 + 7.726 2 2 7.81 7.726 cos 20 + ( 7.558 7.474 )

= 2.699 + 0.083 48 = 2.783 km s

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