Abstract
A discussion on thrust assisted sub-orbits is presented. This operation may be considered as a candidate means for providing station-keeping, for the interrogation of circulating satellites, and as an operational maneuver for pick-up, launch and/or inspection of experiment modules (and the like) from (say) the SHUTTLE spacecraft.
Examples, drawn from theoretical developments, are presented. These describe both the requirements and limits for the maneuver. Typical displacement traces for representative problem situations are shown.
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References
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Eades, J.B. Thrust aided sub-orbits. Celestial Mechanics 16, 353–365 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01232660
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01232660