A Theoretical Investigation of Using N Low Thrust Impulses to Escape from a Circular Satellite Orbit

Citation

Casey, John Carl (1962) A Theoretical Investigation of Using N Low Thrust Impulses to Escape from a Circular Satellite Orbit. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/58PH-YA67. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-12212005-142051

Abstract

An investigation was made into the advantages of using a discontinuous thrust program to escape from a cricular satellite orbit when using a low thrust propulsion unit. To make maximum use of the applied thrust, the perigee distance was chosen at a point where the atmospheric drag was negligible and this distance was held constant throughout the escape maneuver. A numerical integration was made of this method and the spiralling method. The appendixes show a comparison of these two methods.

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