Hyperbolic Trajectory
In the context of aerospace engineering, a hyperbolic trajectory refers to the path of a flying object, such as a spacecraft, that is under the influence of a gravitational field but has sufficient velocity to escape from the gravitational pull. This trajectory is called 'hyperbolic' because it follows a hyperbola, a type of open curve. When a spacecraft is launched from a planet, it initially follows an elliptical orbit. However, if its velocity is increased beyond a certain limit, known as the escape velocity, the spacecraft's path changes from an ellipse to a hyperbola, and it escapes from the planet's gravitational field. The hyperbolic trajectory is significant in space exploration missions, particularly those involving interplanetary travel, as it allows the spacecraft to leave the gravitational field of one celestial body and travel towards another. The trajectory's shape and direction are determined by the spacecraft's velocity and the gravitational field's strength.
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