Transfer Orbits

ADHITYA

Going to the places you want to go in the solar system is harder than it appears at first glance. Sending a spacecraft from Earth to Mars is not as simple as pointing the spacecraft to Mars and turning on the engines. The planets aren't stationary, but moving around the Sun, and the spacecraft will be under the influence of the Sun's gravity for the duration of the flight. Interplanetary exploration really involves a system of special orbits used to bring spacecrafts to other planets while using as little fuel as possible. This article lays out the basics of these so-called transfer orbits.

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