Hohmann Transfer Orbit
In the context of aerospace engineering, a Hohmann Transfer Orbit is a type of orbital maneuver used to transfer a spacecraft from one circular orbit to another, with the two orbits lying in the same plane. Named after Walter Hohmann, a German scientist who introduced the concept in 1925, this maneuver is characterized by its efficiency in terms of fuel consumption. The Hohmann Transfer Orbit consists of two parts: the first is an initial thrust or burn that moves the spacecraft onto a transfer ellipse, and the second is a final thrust that circularizes the orbit at the desired altitude. The transfer ellipse has its perihelion at the lower orbit and its aphelion at the higher orbit. The Hohmann Transfer Orbit is commonly used in satellite deployment and interplanetary missions due to its fuel efficiency. However, it requires precise timing and alignment of the orbits, and the transfer time can be longer compared to other types of orbital maneuvers.
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