Keith’s note: According to someone at NASA: “LADEE just completed a successful firing of its main engine in the second lunar orbit insertion (LOI-2) burn! We are now in a 4 hour elliptic orbit, with the perilune at our commissioning altitude. This follows the LOI-1 burn on Oct 6 that first got us into lunar orbit. The accuracy of the LOI-1 burn was such that we did not need to do the LAM-1 (apolune) maneuver. The final of the three LOI burns is scheduled for October 12. This will settle us into the commissioning orbit.”
Are perigee and apogee Earth-centric words? Do we really have to change those words for every planet/body?
Well done LADEE and good luck on the rest of the mission.
Yes, perigee and apogee are Earth-centric. Perhaps you’re more comfortable with periapsis and apoapsis, which are the generic terms.
Yeah that works 🙂 I mean, what would it be for Europa? Titan? 2010 TK7? Someone would have to make those up.
Interesting – “During the Apollo program, the terms pericynthion and apocynthion (referencing Cynthia, an alternative name for the Greek moon goddess Artemis) were used when referring to the Moon.”