Question
Calculate the minimum change in velocity (delta V or ∆V) required for the Space Shuttle to decrease its altitude to 60 miles if it’s orbiting with an apogee of 236 miles and a perigee of 215 miles above the surface of Earth.
Use the rule of thumb that below an altitude of 500 miles, for every 2 feet per second (fps) change in the orbiting space craft’s velocity its altitude will change by 1 mile.
Use the rule of thumb that below an altitude of 500 miles, for every 2 feet per second (fps) change in the orbiting space craft’s velocity its altitude will change by 1 mile.