Orbital mechanics

Orbital mechanics

1. Basics

   • What is an orbit
   • How does a body orbit a planet
   • Centripetal force/acceleration

2. Orbital aspects

   • Periapsis
   • Apoapsis
   • Semi-major axis
   • Semi-minor axis
   • Shape
     • Eliptical
     • Circular

3. Orbital insertions

   • Brief on delta-V
   • Changing orbits
     • Geostationary (GEO)
     • Circularisation
     • Lunar insertions?
     • LEO
     • MEO
     • Suborbital trajectories

4. Getting into orbit

   • Trajectories
     • Efficiency
   • Orbital stability

5. Deorbit/ re-entry

   • lithobraking
   • retrofiring
   • Aerobraking