ABOUT LUNAR TRANSFER ORBIT
A Lunar Transfer Orbit (also called a translunar trajectory) is the path a spacecraft follows from Earth to the Moon. It typically takes 3 to 5 days and involves a trans-lunar injection burn from LEO or a direct ascent profile. Modern missions sometimes use low-energy ballistic transfers that take longer but require less fuel.
ORBITAL PARAMETERS
| Altitude (Min) | 200 km |
| Altitude (Max) | 384,400 km |
| Inclination | 28-51° |
| Orbital Period | 7200 minutes |
| Orbital Velocity | 10.8 km/s |
| Delta-V Required | 3.1 km/s |
| Eccentricity | 0.97 |
| Category | Transfer Orbit |
EQUATION / FORMULA
v_TLI ≈ 10.8 km/s from LEO
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
Well-characterized trajectory, relatively short transit time, proven by Apollo
DISADVANTAGES
High delta-v requirement, radiation exposure, precise timing windows needed
HISTORY
| Discoverer / Pioneer | Yuri Kondratyuk (1929 theoretical), Luna 1 (1959 practical) |
| First Use | January 2, 1959 |
ALTITUDE CONVERSIONS (MIN)
| Kilometers | 200 km |
| Miles | 124 mi |
| Nautical Miles | 108 nmi |
TYPICAL PAYLOADS (3)
