4 ms·
The target orbit will be a ellipse around the sun. The closest point to the sun will be about 1AU (Earth-Sun distance). The furthest point from the sun will be
by didgeoridoo 9y ago
The target orbit will be a ellipse around the sun.
The closest point to the sun will be about 1AU (Earth-Sun distance). The furthest point from the sun will be something like 1.5AU (Mars-Sun distance).
This orbit will precess, meaning that it will slowly rotate its axis around the sun, rather than staying locked into the exact same path.
- ufmace 9y agoThis. AIUI, they didn't bother setting up the "spacecraft" as an actual deep space probe, and it's likely missing electrical power for an extended mission, plus all of the hardware necessary to orient itself, track time and position, perform further burns to insert into Mars orbit, and communicate with Earth about all of that.