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Interplanetary Astrodynamics – 1st Edition by David B. Spencer & Davide Conte | Complete Solutions Manual (Chapters 2–6)

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This solutions manual covers Chapters 2–6 of Interplanetary Astrodynamics (1st Edition) by David B. Spencer and Davide Conte. It provides detailed, step-by-step solutions to end-of-chapter problems and analytical exercises focused on the fundamentals of interplanetary spaceflight. Topics include two-body dynamics, orbital mechanics, patched conic approximations, interplanetary transfers, gravity assists, and trajectory design, making it ideal for aerospace engineering students and exam preparation.

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JHGFDSA
SOLUTIONS MANUAL
Interplanetary Astrodynamics 1st Edition

By David B. Spencer, Davide Conte
SC
O
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EG
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Interplanetary Astrodynamics

Chapter 2 Problem Solutions

For all numerical problems, use 𝜇 = 398, 600 km3/s2 as the gravitational parameter of the Earth.


Problem 1
SC
Starting with the unperturbed two-body equations of motion, Equation (2.9), derive its state space
form in spherical coordinates.
Solution
Consider the Cartesian (𝑥, 𝑦, and 𝑧) formulation of the equations of motion for the two-body
O
problem:
𝜇𝑥
𝑥=−
𝑟3
𝜇𝑦
R
𝑦=−
𝑟3
𝜇𝑧
𝑧=−
𝑟3
EG
In order to convert between Cartesian and spherical coordinates, we use the following relationships

𝑥 = 𝜌 sin 𝜙 cos 𝜃
𝑦 = 𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃
𝑧 = 𝜌 cos 𝜙
U
where 𝜌, 𝜙, and 𝜃 are the spherical coordinates.
Taking one time-derivative of the above equations for the 𝑥, 𝑦, and 𝑧 coordinates expressed in
terms of 𝜌, 𝜙, and 𝜃 gives
ID
𝑥 = 𝜌 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 + 𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜃 − 𝜌𝜃 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃
𝑦 = 𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 + 𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 sin 𝜃 + 𝜌𝜃 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜃
𝑧 = 𝜌 cos 𝜙 − 𝜌𝜙 sin 𝜙
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Taking another time-derivative:

𝑥 = 𝜌 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 − 𝜌𝜙2 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 − 𝜃2 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 + 𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜃+
— 𝜃𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 + 2𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜃 − 2𝜌𝜃 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 − 2𝜌𝜙𝜃 cos 𝜙 sin 𝜃
𝑦 = 𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 − 𝜌𝜙2 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 − 𝜌𝜃2 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 + 𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 sin 𝜃+
+ 𝜌𝜃 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 + 2𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 sin 𝜃 + 2𝜌𝜃 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 + 2𝜌𝜃𝜙 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜃
𝑧 = 𝜌 cos 𝜙 − 2𝜌𝜙 sin 𝜙 − 𝜌𝜙 sin 𝜙 − 𝜌𝜙2 cos 𝜙
SC
Equating each 𝑥, 𝑦, and 𝑧 acceleration expressed in spherical coordinates with its respective
acceleration terms gives us the equations of motion for the two-body problem in terms of spherical
coordinates 𝜌, 𝜙, and 𝜃

𝜌 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 − 𝜌𝜙2 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 − 𝜃2 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 + 𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜃+
O
— 𝜃𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 + 2𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜃 − 2𝜌𝜃 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 − 2𝜌𝜙𝜃 cos 𝜙 sin 𝜃+
𝜇 sin 𝜙 cos 𝜃
+ =0
𝜌2
R
𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 − 𝜌𝜙2 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 − 𝜌𝜃2 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 + 𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 sin 𝜃+
+ 𝜌𝜃 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 + 2𝜌𝜙 cos 𝜙 sin 𝜃 + 2𝜌𝜃 cos 𝜃 sin 𝜙 + 2𝜌𝜃𝜙 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜃
𝜇 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃
+ =0
EG
𝜌2
𝜇 cos 𝜙
𝜌 cos 𝜙 − 2𝜌𝜙 sin 𝜙 − 𝜌𝜙 sin 𝜙 − 𝜌𝜙2 cos 𝜙 + =0
𝜌2

where we used the fact that 𝜌 = 𝑟 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2.
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Problem 2
Prove that for the unperturbed two-body problem, orbital energy is constant.
Solution
2
Start with the vis-viva equation, Equation (2.50): 𝐸 = 𝑣 − 𝜇
2 𝑟

To prove that energy is constant, we need to take its time derivative and show that it is equal to
zero:
SC
𝑑𝐸 𝑑 𝐯⋅𝐯 𝑑 𝜇
= )−
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 ( 2 𝑑𝑡 [(𝐫 ⋅ 𝐫)1/2 ]

𝐯⋅𝐯+𝐯⋅𝐯 1
= — 𝜇 — 𝐫−3 (2𝐫 ⋅ 𝐫)
( 2 ) [ 2 )
O
Recall that 𝐯 = 𝐫 = −𝜇𝐫
𝑟3 and 𝐫 = 𝐯, so

𝑑𝐸 −𝜇𝐫 𝜇𝐫
R
=𝐯⋅( )+ ⋅𝐯
𝑑𝑡 𝑟3 𝑟3
𝜇𝐫 𝜇𝐫
EG
= −𝐯 ⋅ ( +𝐯⋅ =0
𝑟3 ) 𝑟3
Thus, 𝑑𝐸
𝑑𝑡
= 0 which means that orbital energy is constant.
U
ID
ES


KJHGFDSA

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