The development of low-thrust propulsion systems to complement chemical propulsion systems will greatly enhance the evolution of future space programs. Two advantages of low-thrust rockets are stressed: first, in a strong gravitational field, such as occurs near the Earth, freighter missions with low-thrust engines require one-tenth as much propellant as do chemical engines. Second, in a weak gravitational field, such as occurs in the region between Venus and Mars, low-thrust rockets are faster than chemical rockets with comparable propellant mass. The purpose here is to address the physics of low-thrust trajectories and to interpret the results with two simple models. Analytic analyses are used where possible - otherwise, the results of numerical calculations are presented in graphs. The author has attempted to make this a self-contained report. (ERA citation 12:036821)


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    Title :

    Low-Thrust Rocket Trajectories


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1987


    Size :

    21 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Low-Thrust Rocket Trajectories

    P. W. Keaton | NTIS | 1986



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    Johnson, D. P. / Stumpf, L. W. | NTRS | 1965


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    Perturbation solutions for low-thrust rocket trajectories

    Johnson, D.P. / Stumpf, L.W. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1965