Maneuver (orbit)

The following requires advanced astronavigation, sophisticated computer and sensor technology. The following are most applicable for low technology civilizations where kinetic energy maneuver considerations are still vital and Einstein's general-relativity still a factor.

In space one basic type of Maneuver is to insert or break orbit. It can be used for a tactical or a strategic move.

Background

region of orbital energy      Hill's region with energy >L2      forbidden region= energetic inaccessible

In space going from place to place requires knowledge of orbital mechanics and understanding of the three-body problem.

Transit Orbit

typical transit orbits

Changing orbit or breaking orbit requires energy. A transit orbit is special in that it is the imaginary border in space where a small change of kinetic energy allows a ship to fall into a lower orbit or escape a gravity well. Due to this low energy requirement, it is tactically advantageous to insert into a transit orbit.

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  transit orbit regions

Rosetta Orbit

The Rosetta orbit can cover a whole target orbit or the surface of a target planet. Its distance-time scale is large.

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  typical rosetta orbit

Rosetta-5 Orbit

This variant offers the most time critical response as it can be conducted inside a planetary system e.g. inside moon orbit.

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  typical petal orbit

Butterfly Orbit

A butterfly orbit is achieved by circum-navigating around and between the L1 and L2 points.

It can be a plane orbit or out-of-plane orbit.

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  typical butterfly orbit on the plane

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  typical out-of-plane butterfly orbit

Lyapunov Orbit

The Lyapunov orbit is a butterfly orbit with an extra large close orbit around the target planet.

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  typical Lyapunov orbit on the plane

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  typical out-of-plane Lyapunov orbit

See also

• Spaceship performance (normal space)