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Orbital Mechanics

Orbital Mechanics. Orbital Mechanics refers to the general description of how bodies move in force fields (such as gravity) given that energy and momentum are conserved.

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Orbital Mechanics

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  1. Orbital Mechanics • Orbital Mechanics refers to the general description of how bodies move in force fields (such as gravity) given that energy and momentum are conserved. • For two spherical objects in which gravity is the only force, this problem is analytic, and both bodies execute elliptical orbits (i.e., they obey Kepler’s laws).

  2. Vis-Viva Equation • Gravity is an attractive force. As you fall toward a body of mass, you speed up; as you move away, you slow down. • The Vis-Viva equation is a simple and useful relation describing this interrelation between total orbital speed and proximity to the dominant massive body.

  3. Being a Rocket Scientist! • Spaceflight is expensive. Energy is required to lift mass away from the Earth into space ($thousands per kilogram). • Question: What is the minimum energy orbit transfer, requiring the minimum fuel to move from one planet to another? • Ans: Hohmann orbit transfers. • In part, want to take advantage of the fact that the Earth is already moving at about 30 km/sec.

  4. Types of Orbit Transfers

  5. Transfer Orbits in the Solar System

  6. Timing for a Mars Visit

  7. Orbit of Voyager

  8. Gravitational Boosts for Voyager

  9. Geostationary Orbits

  10. Issues for Colonizing Other Worlds • TRAVEL - Getting there and back (cost and time). • POLITICS - Who is in charge? Who reaps the benefits? Who “owns”? • GRAVITY - What happens anatomically, physiologically, psychologically, and sociologically in terms of future generations born in different gravity (lower g) environs? • WATER - Finding, bringing, controlling. • ATMOSPHERE - Atmospheres moderate day/night temperature extremes. Also need breathable air. Terra-forming versus building and maintaining specialized habitations. • RADIATION/SOLAR WIND/COSMIC RAYS - What if no ozone? What if no magnetosphere? Might have to live underground.

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