A space probe in a low earth orbit is inserted into an elliptic transfer orbit to the planet Venus. Knowing that the mass of the sun is 332.8 × 103 times the mass of the earth and assuming that the probe is subjected only to the gravitational attraction of the sun, determine the value of (, which defines the relative position of Venus with respect to the earth at the time the probe is inserted into the transfer orbit.

Transcribed Image Text:

67.2 × 10° mi Venus at arrival rE = 93.0 x 106 mi Venus at insertion Sun Earth at insertion