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continuous thrust inclination change trajectory

In the impulsive regime this would only take a single intense burn. However, if you don't have a massive engine (perhaps instead an ion drive or an even wimpier solar sail), there is a simple control law to follow to spread the effort out over as many orbits as you need.

 

This is a simulation of a spacecraft with a weak, constant-force drive following this control law.

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Uploaded on September 25, 2010