Difference between revisions of "Apogee"
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The point at which a body's orbit passes closest to the Earth is known as [[Perigee]]. | The point at which a body's orbit passes closest to the Earth is known as [[Perigee]]. | ||
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[[Category:Orbital Mechanics]] | [[Category:Orbital Mechanics]] | ||
Revision as of 02:19, 22 February 2013
Definition
The equivalent of apoapsis of a body in Earth ortbit, i.e. the point where it is furthest from the Earth, is called its apogee or apogee height.
Unlike with all other bodies, mission planners are usually more interested in the height above the surface for low Earth orbit spacecraft. Hence apogee height refers to the distance between the body and the Earth's surface rather than the distance between the body and the Earth's centre of mass, for all objects in Earth orbit.[1]
If you wish to anambiguously use the same measurements as with all other bodies, it is best to say apofocus distance rather than apogee.
The point at which a body's orbit passes closest to the Earth is known as Perigee.
References
- ↑ J.R. Wertz - Orbits and astrodynamics in J.R. Wertz, D.F. Everett & J.J. Puschell eds. Space mission engineering: The new SMAD ISBN 978-1-881883-15-9 p. 202
