METHOD OF INJECTION OF SPACECRAFT INTO INTER-PLANETARY TRAJECTORY Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC B64G1/10 B64G1/26 

FIELD: spacecraft inter-planetary flights with the aid of cruise jet engines, mainly electrical rocket engines.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method includes injection of spacecraft into heliocentric trajectory at distance of spacecraft from Sun followed by its approach to Sun. Active motion of spacecraft is realized in part of this trajectory behind Earth's orbit during operation of jet engines. Then, spacecraft returns to Earth at velocity increment and increases its heliocentric velocity in the course of gravitational maneuver near Earth. After spacecraft has crossed Earth's orbit in section of its approach to Sun and before entry into Earth's gravisphere, spacecraft is accelerated by repeated switching-on of cruise jet engines. At the moment of fly-by over Earth when gravitational maneuver is performed, angular motion of Earth and spacecraft relative to Sun are equalized. During fly-by over Earth, spacecraft is subjected to its gravitational field changing the vector of spacecraft heliocentric velocity, thus ensuring further acceleration of spacecraft and forming inter-planetary trajectory of flight to target.

EFFECT: reduction of time required for organization of gravitational maneuver in Earth's gravity field at injection of spacecraft into required inter-planetary trajectory.

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