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Problem 10

A space vehicle is in a circular orbit of 5800km radius around an unknown planet. To transfer it to a

smaller circular orbit of 3500 km radius, the vehicle is placed in a Hohmann transfer by first reducing it's

speed by 400 m/s at the apoapsis¹ of the transfer orbit. Determine: a) The mass of the planet, b) The

speed of the vehicle as it approaches the periapsis¹ of the transfer orbit c) The second velocity increment

at the periapsis¹ of the transfer orbit to achieve the smaller orbit. d) The total velocity increment of the

mission.

(Answers: 7.93×10²3 kg, 4.34 km/s, 454 m/s, 854 m/s)