Trajectory Correction Maneuvers

All space missions have trajectory correction maneuvers, also known as TCM. Their purpose is to adjust the flight path.

TCMs must not be confounded with Deep Space Maneuvers or DSMs.

Basics

Trajectory correction maneuvers are conducted after or before a ship reaches an important milestone of its mission (for example after setting a trajectory towards another planet or before reaching its sphere of influence).

Also, trajectory correction maneuvers are almost always done by burning the engine sideways from the flight path. They usually don't accelerate or decelerate the ship, but slightly change its trajectory.

Purpose

Trajectory correction maneuvers are important for precision adjusting the path of a ship. For example, while orbiting the Earth, a ship is affected by the gravity of the Moon. One might want to set the trajectory in such a way that it will intersect the atmosphere of Mars for an Aerobrake, but from Earth's sphere of influence this is risky. however, once the ship is in heliocentric orbit, this becomes possible.

Sometimes, Deep Space Maneuvers are not enough to send a ship to the desired path for a flyby. In that case, additional trajectory corrections are needed.

One of the most impressive way to do trajectory corrections is when a ship is just entering the sphere of influence. By burning the engine sideways, it is possible to change the trajectory from a prograde to a retrograde one. This can have tremendous effects for Gravity Assists.

See Also

• Advanced Orbital Mechanics
• Aerobrake
• Deep Space Maneuvers
• Gravity Assists
• Oberth Effect