Space Technology, Section-A, Module -5, Lecture-4 Class 15

Case II: Parabola, ET = 0 or e = 1

DIRECTRIX

F P

Figure 1

h2 / 2rmin h2
Trajectory: r = = , where rmin = rP =
1 + cos 1 + cos 2

2
Velocity at radius r: V =
r

2 2 2
Vmax @ rmin = = and Vmin @ r = =0
rmin h r

ToF for a parabolic trajectory:

The ToF to a position on any conic from preiapsis (with periapsis time, t 0 ) is:
1 2
0 =
0
Now for parabolic trajectory e=1, therefore,
2 2

() = =
1 + cos 2 cos 2 2
 2
2


1
0 =
4 0 cos 2
2

3 3
= 0 + 2 sec 4 = 0 + 2 sec 2 1 + tan2
2 0 2 2 2 0 2 2 2

3 1
= 0 + 2
tan + tan3
2 2 3 2

Case III: Hyperbola, ET > 0 or e > 1

DIRECTRIX

z
p

P 2b

2a

2c

Figure 2
 h2 / a2 + b2 h2 b2
Trajectory: r = , where e = and = a (e 1) =
2

1 + e cos a a

1
Using relations z p = 2a , z = p + (2c ) , c = rmin + a , c = rmin 1 + +d
2 2 2

b 1
tan a = and cos a =
a e

h2 / a a2
To get rmin = rP = = a (e 1) , d = = , c = ae, b = a e 2 1
1+ e e c

2
Orbital energy: ET = 2
(1 e ) = 2a
2

2h

2a
Velocity at radius r: V = + 1
a r

e +1
Therefore velocity at periapsis, V P = and Vr =
a e 1 a

ToF for hyperbolic trajectories:

For hyperbolic trajectories, an equilateral hyperbola which has e = 1.414 is chosen to

define eccentric anomaly. The semi-major axis of this hyperbola is taken to be the
same as the hyperbola of interest. The hyperbolic eccentric anomaly F is given by

+ cos
cosh =
1 + cos
the mean anomaly M is obtained as:
= sinh
And the ToF from periapsis is determined as

3
0 =

Summary

Ellipse Parabola Hyperbola

ET -/2a 0 /2a

2a 2 2a
-1 +1
V
a r r a r

a ( 1-e 2 ) a ( e 2 1)
h 2rp

rp a(1-e) h 2 /2 a(e-1)

e 1
a 2 -b 2 a 2 +b 2
a a

ToF from preiapsis 0

3 3
0 = 3
0 =

= + 2
tan
2 2
where where
1
+ tan3 = sinh
= 3 2
and
And
cosh

tan + cos
2 =
1 + cos
1+
= tan
1 2

Further Reading:

1. Mechanics & Thermodynamics of Propulsion (2nd Ed.) by Philip G.Hill and Carl Peterson
(2nd Edition) Chapter #10 (section 10.6)
2. Space Flight Dynamics William E Wiesel (2nd Edition) Chapter #3.
3. Introduction to Space Flight by Francis J. Hale (Chapter #3) Prentice Hall.