System and method for with engines with high specific pulses a spacecraft provided to bring into orbit

摘要

The method of placing in orbit is used to place a space vehicle, such as a satellite, on a target orbit, such as that which is adapted to a normal operational of the space vehicle, from an initial orbit is elliptical substantially different and in particular more eccentric that the target orbit. It is described in the space vehicle a spiral path composed of a plurality of intermediate orbits in a single continuous firing of a set of high specific impulse thrusters, mounted on the space vehicle, the evolution of the spiral trajectory of such a way that, at each revolution, in succession, at least during a first phase of operation, it is to produce an increase of perigee altitude, a change in a determined direction of the apogee altitude and a reduction of the potential difference in inclination of an intermediate orbit with respect to the target orbit, and then, at least during a second phase of operation, the variations of the apogee altitude of perigee and are controlled individually in the direction of predetermined constant, while one continues to reduce the potential difference in inclination of an intermediate orbit with respect to the target orbit until the apogee altitude, of perigee and inclinations orbitals of an intermediate orbit of the space vehicle are substantially those of the target orbit.