Basic Orbital Mechanics

Dr. Andrew Ketsdever

MAE 5595

Conic Sections

Eccentricity

Conic

=0

Circle

0-1

Ellipse

=1

Parabola

>1

Hyperbola

Elliptical Orbit Geometry

Conic Sections

2 R
2a
2

Vcircular

Classical Orbital Elements

Semi-Major Axis, a
Size

2a
Eccentricity, e
Shape

a3
Period 2

2c
e
2a
Keplers 3rd Law

Classical Orbital Elements

Inclination
Tilt

Inclination
Orbit
= 90
Polar
0 or 180 Equatorial
0 - 90
Prograde
90 - 180 Retrograde

hZ
cos i
h

Classical Orbital Elements

Right Ascension of
the Ascending Node
(RAAN)

n K h
nX
cos
n
If n y 0, then 0 180
If n y 0, then 180 360

Classical Orbital Elements

Argument of Perigee

n e
cos
ne
If e Z 0, then 0 180
If e Z 0, then 180 360

Classical Orbital Elements

True Anomaly

eR
cos
eR

If (R V) 0, then 0 180

If (R V) 0, then 180 360

Computing COEs
From a R and V vector
Can compute the 6 COEs
Also works in reverse (given COEs compute
R and V)
Example:

R 0 I 0 J 7500 K
V 0 I 7.5 J 0 K

km
km
sec

COEs
a = 7965.1 km
e = 0.0584
i = 90
= 270
= 90
= 0
Mission: Probably remote sensing or a spy
satellite because its in a low, polar orbit.

Ground Tracks

Ground Track Slides Courtesy of Major David French

COE Determination
a3
P 2

N
longitude
P=

Semimajor axis

N
15 / hr

COE Determination

Eccentricity

COE Determination

i = highest latitude

Inclination

COE Determination
= 90

Argument of Perigee

COE Determination

True Anomaly

Orbit Examples

Molniya

Geostationary

Geosynchronous

Geosynchronous
e=0

e=0
i = 0

e = 0.4
= 180

e = 0.6
= 90

Orbit Prediction
Keplers Problem
If we know where a satellite (or
planet) is today, where in its orbit will
it be tomorrow?
Kepler devised a series of
mathematical expressions to solve
this particular problem
Eccentric Anomaly
Mean Anomaly
True Anomaly

II. The line joining the

planet to the Sun
sweeps out equal areas
in equal times as the
planet travels around the
ellipse.

Orbit Prediction
Kepler defined the
Eccentric Anomaly to
relate elliptical motion
to circular motion
He also defined Mean
Anomaly to make the
circular motion
constant
Convert unsteady
elliptical motion into
unsteady circular
motion into steady
circular motion

Orbit Prediction

, E , M are always in the same half - plane

E M for 0 or 180

Orbital Prediction
Given
a = 7000 km
e = 0.05
= 270
Find the time of flight to final = 50

Orbital Prediction
n = 0.001078 rad/sec
Einitial = 272.87
Efuture = 47.84
Minitial = 275.73
Mfuture = 45.72
TOF = 2104.58 sec or
35.08 min

n
a3
e cos
cos E
1 e cos

M E e sin E
TOF

M f M i 2k
n