Tri-Elliptic Aeroassisted Orbit Transfers Between Coplanar Orbits

What is it about?

A new tri-elliptic aero-assisted transfer between coplanar orbits is proposed with three elliptic segments and three impulsive maneuvers by flying through a planetary atmosphere. It is shown under certain parameter regimes this is a less expensive strategy in terms of total delta-v than the previously studied bi-elliptic aero-assisted transfer as well as other practical coplanar transfers such as the Hohmann transfer.

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