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For Researchers · Orbital Transfer

Orbital Transfer for a solar sail

Built for researchers prototyping or validating an idea. Prototype fast, reproduce exactly, and share a citable, interactive version of your model. Simulate a solar sail live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Orbital Transfer (Hohmann)Live

minimum-energy orbit change

Controls

Speed1×

The Hohmann transfer is the fuel-cheapest way between two circular orbits: one burn to enter the transfer ellipse, one to circularize. See the two Δv costs.

Presets

Inner orbit radius

Outer orbit radius

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Δv burn 11.64

Δv burn 21.34

Total Δv2.99

Transfer time61.3

Governing equation

Δ v = \frac{μ}{90} (\frac{2 \cdot 200}{90 + 200} - 1) + \frac{μ}{200} (1 - \frac{2 \cdot 90}{90 + 200}) = 2.99

Reading this result: A moderate transfer (90 → 200, ~2.2×): burn 1 (1.64) enters the ellipse, burn 2 (1.34) circularizes. Bigger ratios cost more total Δv (2.99) and coast longer (61.3).

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for researchers?: Yes — this version of "Orbital Transfer for a solar sail" is framed for researchers prototyping or validating an idea. Prototype fast, reproduce exactly, and share a citable, interactive version of your model.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.