Module 1.3 • Section 4

The Trajectory Simulator LIVE LAB

Laboratory Objective

In this lab, you will manually pilot a spacecraft in a 2D N-body simulation perfectly mimicking Earth. Manipulate the forward Velocity ($v$) slider to watch the trajectory warp from a suborbital crash into a circular orbit, to an ellipse, and finally to escape velocity.

0 (Straight Down) 15+ (Escape Vel)
Live Telemetry
  • Current Altitude 400 km
  • Centripetal G's 0.9 g
  • Kepler Period ($T$) 92.5 mins
STATUS BOX
SCALE: 1px = ~40km
$$ v_{circ} = \sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}} \approx 7.67 \text{ km/s} \quad | \quad v_{esc} = v_{circ} \cdot \sqrt{2} \approx 10.85 \text{ km/s} $$

Lab Conclusion Check