That's not hard to do - because the period of the orbit is easily changed. Just small changes in the orbit vary the period. And a small change in the orbital period will build up, over many orbits, to as much of a phase change as you like.
It is very hard to change the inclination of the orbit, or to raise or lower its average altitude. But it is easy to change the phase, so that you are in a different part of the orbit, with enough advance warning, by adjustments in the period.
It is very hard to change the inclination of the orbit, or to raise or lower its average altitude. But it is easy to change the phase, so that you are in a different part of the orbit, with enough advance warning, by adjustments in the period.
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Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
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