lunar orbit precession problem

Forum: SSI-List
Thread: lunar orbit precession problem

# 15900 bycfrjlr@... on Oct. 17, 2001, 5:18 p.m.
Member since 2022-08-22

I just thought of a problem with the circular HEO orbit as the staging location between Earth and Luna.

The plane of the Moon's orbit is not fixed. It precesses. I forget what the precession period is, several years I think.

The HEO orbit plane will also precess at a different
rate (faster) than the lunar orbit, so most of the time they will not be coplanar. This results in very restrictive launch window opportunities.

This in turns makes the L-4/5 orbital region more attractive - those orbits are always in the same plane as Luna's (right?).

CFR