- #1
awygle
- 13
- 0
If specific orbital energy for an elliptical orbit is -[tex]\frac{\mu}{2a}[/tex] , shouldn't that mean that the further from the Earth an orbit is the lower its specific orbital energy? The Wikipedia page on specific orbital energy (admittedly not the best source) indicates the opposite, and if it were true that SOE decreased with semi-major axis wouldn't it be the case that it would be easier (in terms of energy needed) to reach the Moon than low Earth orbit?
I'm guessing my confusion comes from the negative sign... what does negative specific orbital energy even mean, anyway?
Thanks for reading.
I'm guessing my confusion comes from the negative sign... what does negative specific orbital energy even mean, anyway?
Thanks for reading.