Ian R Gatland
The Lambert problem is to determine the gravitational orbit between two points that has a specified time of flight, allowing the second point to be a moving target such as a satellite. After a review of gravitational orbits, a solution of the Lambert problem is presented using the path equation directly. However, because the time interval is specified, the solution requires a search procedure. An example is given to illustrate the method.
Comments: 6 pages. 1 figure. In press
Journal reference: American Journal of Physics, 2022