Transfer orbit
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In orbital mechanics, a transfer orbit is an intermediate elliptical orbit that is used to move a spacecraft in an orbital maneuver from one circular, or largely circular, orbit to another.[1][2]
There are several types of transfer orbits, which vary in their energy efficiency and speed of transfer. These include:
- Hohmann transfer orbit, an elliptical orbit used to transfer a spacecraft between two circular orbits of different altitudes in the same plane[3]
- Bi-elliptic transfer, a slower method of transfer, but one that may be more efficient than a Hohmann transfer orbit[4]
- Geostationary transfer orbit or geosynchronous transfer orbit is usually also a Hohmann transfer orbit[5]
- Lunar transfer orbit is an orbit that touches Low Earth orbit and a lunar orbit.[6]
References
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