Mathematical relation between the Hohmann transfer and continuous-low thrust Maneuvers

Authors

Robert A. Bettinger, Air Force Institute of Technology
Jonathan T. Black, Air Force Institute of Technology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2014

Abstract

Employed primarily by spacecraft with electric propulsion systems, spiral orbital transfers are characterized by continuous thrust throughout the maneuver. The ΔV required to conduct a continuous-low-thrust spiral transfer can be determined if the limit of the ΔV equation for a Hohmann transfer is evaluated as the number of consecutive Hohmann transfers, or burn frequency, approaches infinity.

Comments

This article is published by Elsevier as cited, and is available to subscribers through the DOI link below.

Author note: Robert Bettinger was an AFIT PhD Candidate at the time of this article's publication. (AFIT-ENY-DS-14-J-13, June 2014)

DOI

10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.11.020

Source Publication

Acta Astronautica (ISSN 0094-5765)

Recommended Citation

Bettinger, R. A., & Black, J. T. (2014). Mathematical relation between the Hohmann transfer and continuous-low thrust Maneuvers. Acta Astronautica, 96, 42–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.11.020