Space Flight Mechanics

Assignment Week 1
TYPE OF QUESTION: MCQ/MSQ

Number of questions: 12 Total marks: 12 x 1 = 12

Question 1
A satellite is moving in an elliptic orbit with perigee at an altitude of 600 km.
The eccentricity of the orbit is e = 0.8. Let the radius of the Earth be 6400 km.
the apogee is
a) 63000 km
b) 65000 km
c) 60000 km
d) 69000 km
correct answer: a

Solution:
The distance of the parigee from the occupied focus is rp = 600 + 6400 = 7000
km.
We know, the eccentricity of an elliptic orbit is given by
ra − rp
e= (1)
ra + rp
where ra = the apogee of the orbit. From equation (1), we get ra = 63000
km.

1
Question 2
Referring to Question 1, the semi major axis is
a) 40000 km
b) 35000 km
c) 33000 km
d) 38000 km
correct answer: b

Solution:
The semi major axis of an ellipse is given by
ra
a= = 35000
1+e
The semi major axisof the orbit is 35000 km.

Question 3
In a hyperbolic orbit of eccentricity 1.4 the true anomaly is 30◦ and semi major
axis is 26000 km. The distance of the satellite from the occupied focus is
a) 9215.36 km
b) 11281.68 km
c) 13589.58 km
d) 7893.53 km
correct answer: b

Solution:
The expression for the distance of the satellite from the occupied focus is

a(e2 − 1)
r= = 11281.68
1 + ecosθ
So, The distance of the satellite from the occupied focus is 11281.68 km.

2
Question 4
A satellite is moving in an elliptic orbit with apogee at an altitude of 56600 km.
The eccentricity of the orbit is e = 0.8. Let the radius of the Earth be 6400 km.
The semi minor axis is
a) 25000 km
b) 18000 km
c) 21000 km
d) 15000 km
correct answer: c

Solution:
The apogee of the given orbit is

ra = 56600 + 6400 = 63000

The semi major axis of the orbit is given by

ra
a= = 35000
1+e
Therefore, the semi minor axis will be
p
b = a 1 − e2 = 21000

The semi minor axis is 21000 km.

Question 5
Referring to Question 4, the value of the semi latus rectum will be
a) 12600 km
b) 15300 km
c) 11200 km
d) 8200 km
correct answer: a

3
Solution:
The semi latus rectum of the given orbit in km is

b2
c= = 12600
a

Question 6
A satellite is moving in an elliptic orbit with semi major axis of 10000 km. The
eccentricity of the orbit is e = 0.2. Let the radius of the Earth be 6400 km. The
apogee of the satellite is
a) 15000 km
b) 5600 km
c) 8000 km
d) 12000 km

correct answer: d

Solution:
The apogee (in km) of the given orbit is

ra = a(1 + e) = 12000

Question 7
Referring to Question 6, calculate the satellite’s altitude at perigee
a) 8000 km
b) 7000 km
c) 1600 km
d) 2600 km
correct answer: c

4
Solution:
The perigee of the elliptic orbit is

rp = a(1 − e) = 8000

Therefore, the satellite altitude at perigee is 8000 − 6400 = 1600 km.

Question 8
Referring to Question 6, the magnitude of the semi minor axis is
a) 8646 km
b) 6262 km
c) 9797 km
d) 5898 km
correct answer: c

Solution:
We know, the semi minor axis of the orbit is expressed as
p
b = a 1 − e2

The magnitude of the semi minor axis is 9797 km.

Question 9
Referring to Question 6, the magnitude of the semi latus rectum will be
a) 9600 km
b) 7000 km
c) 12700 km
d) 10200 km
correct answer: a

5
Solution:
We know, the semi latus rectum of the orbit is given by
b2
c=
a
The magnitude of the semi latus rectum is 9600 km

Question 10
In an elliptic orbit of eccentricity 0.2 the true anomaly is 30◦ and the semilatus
rectum is 10000 km. The distance of the satellite from the occupied focus is
a) 6459.26 km
b) 5291.82 km
c) 9852.78 km
d) 8523.65 km
correct answer: d

Solution:
The expression for the distance of the satellite from the occupied focus is
l
r=
1 + ecosθ
where l = semilatus rectum. The distance of the satellite from the occupied
focus is 8523.65 km.

Question 11
A satellite is moving in a hyperbolic orbit with semilatus rectum of 10000 km.
The eccentricity of the orbit is e = 1.2. the magnitude of the semi major axis
will be
a) 22727.27 km
b) 20587.36 km
c) 26547.78 km
d) 18751.25 km
correct answer: a

6
Solution:
The semi major axis of a hyperbolic orbit is given by
l
a=
e2 − 1
where l= the semilatus rectum of the orbit. Therefore, The semi major axis
is 22727.27 km

Question 12
Referring to Question 11, The perigee of the given orbit is
a) 8459.59 km
b) 6252.65 km
c) 3737.37 km
d) 4545.45 km
correct answer: d

Solution:
The perigee of the given orbit is

rp = a(e − 1) = 4545.45