// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Orbital Transfer
The process of moving a spacecraft from one orbit to another, often requiring one or more engine burns.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
An Orbital Transfer is a propulsive maneuver or series of maneuvers designed to move a spacecraft from an initial orbit to a different target orbit, commonly employing Hohmann transfers, bi-elliptic transfers, or low-thrust spirals.
BACKGROUND
An orbital propellant depot is a cache of propellant that is placed in orbit around Earth or another body to allow spacecraft or the transfer stage of the spacecraft to be fueled in space. It is one of the types of space resource depots that have been proposed for enabling infrastructure-based space exploration. Many depot concepts exist depending on the type of fuel to be supplied, location, or type of depot which may also include a propellant tanker that delivers a single load to a spacecraft at a specified orbital location and then departs. In-space fuel depots are not necessarily located near or at a space station.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Orbit change
- trajectory change
- interplanetary transfer
USAGE NOTE
Fundamental for missions requiring movement between different orbital regimes, such as GTO to GEO.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Orbital Transfer.
Develops and operates advanced rockets and spacecraft capable of complex orbital maneuvers and deep-space transfers, including the Falcon 9's second stage and the upcoming Starship system, for satellite deployment, resupply missions, and lunar/Martian transit.
Through its subsidiary SpaceLogistics LLC, Northrop Grumman developed the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) and Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) for in-orbit servicing, including satellite life extension, relocation, and complex orbital transfers.
Specializes in in-orbit servicing, debris removal, and space sustainability, developing technologies for rendezvous, proximity operations, and precise orbital transfers for satellite life extension and end-of-life services.
Develops and operates Vigoride orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) using water plasma propulsion for in-space transportation, last-mile delivery of satellites, and hosted payload services, enabling complex orbital changes.
Provides in-orbit satellite transportation and logistics services with its ION Satellite Carrier, an orbital transfer vehicle designed to deploy satellites into precise target orbits and perform advanced maneuvers.
Developing the Orbiter orbital transfer vehicle, a space tug designed to transport satellites from a primary launch vehicle's drop-off orbit to their precise operational orbits.
Focuses on providing in-space transportation services with various space tugs capable of executing advanced orbital transfers, last-mile delivery, and deep-space missions.
Offers launch and in-space logistics services, including the development and operation of its 'Caravan' orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) for precise last-mile delivery of small satellites to their target orbits.