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Elliptical Orbits

Elliptical Orbits: Kepler’s Laws, Elliptical Orbits, Change of Orbits, and the famous passing of a Ham Sandwich by astronauts in orbit. Kepler’s three Laws summarize the motion of the planets in our solar system. Following Newton’s law of universal gravitation, the conservation of angular momentum and mechanical energy allow us to calculate the semimajor axis of the elliptical orbits, the orbital period and other orbital parameters. All we have to know is one position and the associated velocity of a planet and the entire orbit follows.