retrograde
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
A retrograde orientation is one that has the ship facing in the opposite direction from its direction of travel in its orbit.
A retrograde burn is one in that direction, i.e. that subtracts from the ship's orbital speed.
The effect of a retrograde burn is to lower the orbit's altitude (opposite the ship's current location); it is thus used when approaching a planet or moon and assuming a closed orbit, or when landing.
When in a low orbit around a target planet or moon, A retrograde burn may be used at the apoapsis or periapsis if attempting to create a path to the surface at a 180 degree angle relative to the target.
See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrograde