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Questions tagged [hohmann-transfer]

An orbital maneuver to transfer between two circular orbits consisting of one burn to enter the transfer orbit and one to circularize in the final orbit.

In orbital mechanics, the Hohmann transfer orbit is an elliptical orbit used to transfer between two circular orbits of different radii in the same plane. The orbital maneuver to perform the Hohmann transfer uses two engine impulses: one to move a spacecraft onto the transfer orbit and a second to move off it.

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~15.5817 -- Is there a name for this number?

I've been playing with Hohmann transfers from one circular orbit to another. I've been calling the radius of the departure orbit 1 and the radius of the arrival orbit $r$ with $r>1$. There are two burns: Departure burn to leave circular departure…
HopDavid
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Hohmann transfer trajectory and "porkchop plot"

The “porkchop plot” for a spacecraft flying from Earth to Mars would show contours of equal characteristic energy against combinations of launch date and arrival date. Assuming the spacecraft has sufficient performance margin, could it “step up” to…
Richard
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Are the delta-V requirements for outgoing Hohmann transfer the same as for incoming between two specified semi-major axes?

From a specified circular orbit it is often said that it is easier to go out than in, referring to the fact that achieving escape velocity from a circular orbit takes less delta-V than achieving zero velocity. I originally thought this would apply…
NeutronStar
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Hohmann transfer orbit Burn Duration

Hohmann's orbital transfer is explained in theory in terms of instantaneous impulses, but in real life instantaneous impulses do not exist. Finite burn is used instead. How is the burn duration calculated?
Isaac Newton
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