A new mission concept is introduced for future astrophysical observatories. This concept is to use a solar orbit that remains bounded to the Earth at a large distance on the order of several million kilometers. These orbits are termed here Distant Retrograde Orbits (DRO's). This type of orbit is ideal for a space telescope that needs to be separated from the Earth by large distance to avoid the near Earth environmental effects, yet needs to remain bounded within some predefined distance for communication purposes. Another application is for a solar storm warning system that can provide warning times greater than those available from a similar system at the interior libration point of the Sun-Earth/Moon system. Several classes of DRO's in the Sun-Earth/Moon system are presented. The associated launch and insertion energies for impulsive and continuous thrust transfers from a low Earth parking orbit are investigated.
Transfer trajectories for distant retrograde orbiters of the Earth
01.01.1993
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Transfer Trajectories for Distant Retrograde Orbiters of the Earth (AAS 93-344)
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993
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