ALL CONTENT

angular momentum vector - h - the resulting cross product of the postion and velocity vectors which is a constant. h is normal to the orbit plane. The angle between the primary body's polar axis and h is the inclination... conic sections - the family of curves created by passing planes through two right circular cones. These include circles, ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas. These curves are the only possible orbits an object can take in a two body problem... descending node - the point in the orbit where the spacecraft crosses the equatorial plane moving from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. 180 degrees from the descending node is the ascending node.

Also known as: ED GARBER ASTRONAUTICS