Space Flight: The Application of Orbital Mechanics TL1050 .S63
1. Ptolemy developed the first orbital concept of the solar system called the
________________ theory in 150 AD with the Earth at the center of the universe.
2. Nicolaus ___________________ developed the first substantial theory of the
heliocentric theory of the solar system.
3. The velocity in an orbit is fastest at the _____________ and slowest at the
__________________.
4. Kepler’s 3rd law relates the __________________________ squared to the
____________________________ cubed.
5. ______________ developed the universal law of gravitation, and the first
mathematical expression of orbits.
6. Newton’s 3rd law states that for every _____________ there is an equal but
opposite __________________.
7. The six ____________ elements define the position and motion of a satellite in
orbit.
8. A satellite’s orbit period can be calculated from the semi-_________________
of the orbit.
9. The most common coordinate system used for spacecraft and satellite
operations is called the _____________________________________________.
10. The X-axis of the primary coordinate system points towards the ____________
___________________.
11. The ____________ angle measures the difference between a reference
plane (usually Earth’s equator) and the orbit plane.
12. The greatest distance that a satellite reaches in its orbit around the Earth is
called __________________.
13. The shortest distance that a satellite reaches in its orbit around the Earth is
called __________________.
14. The projection of a satellite orbit on the surface of the orbited planet/moon is
called the ______________ track.
15. The westward shift in the orbital track of a prograde satellite orbit is due to
____________________________ and ______________________.
16. For a launch due east, a satellite will have a ground track that covers
latitudes between plus and minus the launch ____________________.
17. The greatest inclination of launch from Kennedy Space Center is _____ deg.
18. The maximum launch velocity gain from launch at the Earth’s equator is
approximately ____________ft/s.
19. ____________ is the incremental increase or decrease in velocity from a
burn.
20. Forward burns that raise the apogee of an orbit burns are called
_______________ burns
21. Rearward burns are called ________________ burns.
22. The most efficient orbit transfer method is the ________________ transfer.
23. Orbit plane change is expensive in propellant and must be done at one of the
__________________.
24. The Space Shuttle’s limit for plane change is approximately _______ deg.
25. A satellite in an orbit of about _______________ nautical miles has an orbit
period the same as the Earth’s rotation called a geosynchronous orbit.
26. A geosynchronous orbit that is on the equator (inclination of 0 deg.) is in a
_____________________ orbit.
27. The Space Shuttle performs a ______________ burn to enter the
atmosphere about 4,000 miles from its burn.