Hohmann Transfer Orbit - Worst Case, Maximum Delta-v

Worst Case, Maximum Delta-v

A Hohmann transfer orbit between a given circular orbit and a larger circular orbit, in the case of a single central body, costs the largest delta-v (53.6% of the original orbital speed) if the radius of the larger orbit is 15.58 times that of the smaller orbit. This number is the positive root of . For higher orbit ratios the delta-v decreases again, and tends to times the original orbital speed (41.4%). The first burst tends to accelerate to the escape speed, which is times the circular orbit speed, and the second tends to zero.