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They aren't going to actually orbit the moon, they're going around the moon. It's called a "free return trajectory". This is actually less than Apollo 8 did (e
by greglindahl 8y ago
They aren't going to actually orbit the moon, they're going around the moon. It's called a "free return trajectory".
This is actually less than Apollo 8 did (edit: only talking about the orbit): Apollo 8 actually went into lunar orbit with a burn, and then left lunar orbit with another burn.
However, this is using "orbit" in its formal sense. Most people would look at the diagram of the spaceship flying around the moon and call it an "orbit". I'm not going to tell them that they're wrong to say that.
- twtw 8y agothe reusability is the major differentiator versus Apollo missions.
- mikeash 8y agoParabolic and hyperbolic orbits are still orbits.
- garmaine 8y agoIt is an orbit. They're only making one orbit on a free return trajectory, but it's still an orbit.
- avmich 8y agoIt's a (roughly) Zond-7 trajectory.
- dylan604 8y ago> This is actually less than Apollo 8 did But isn't it exactly what Apollo 13 did?