Orbit phasing

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

In astrodynamics orbit phasing is the adjustment of the time-position of spacecraft along its orbit, usually described as adjusting the orbiting spacecraft's true anomaly.

The most basic type of phasing maneuver is simply a two-impulse Hohmann transfer which takes the spacecraft away from, and then back to, its original orbit, with the period of the transfer orbit chosen such that the time in which the spacecraft returns to its original orbit can be specified.

Orbit phasing is required for a successful approach to a space station in a docking maneuver. Here, two spacecraft on the same orbit but at different true anomalies rendezvous by either one or both of the satellites entering phasing trajectories which cause them to return to their original orbit at the same true anomaly at the same time.

Phasing maneuvers are also commonly employed by geosynchronous satellites, either to conduct station-keeping manuvers to maintain their orbit above a specific latitude, or to change latitude altogether.

See also

Spaceflight portal

• Orbital maneuver
• Docking maneuver

References

This astronomy-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e