Meriam, Kraige & Bolton — Kinetics of Particles: Problem 3_236

3/236 The 175,000-lb space-shuttle orbiter is in a circular orbit of altitude 200 miles. The two orbital-maneuvering-system (OMS) engines, each of which has a thrust of 6000 lb, are fired in retrothrust for 150 seconds. Determine the angle \(\beta\) which locates the intersection of the shuttle trajectory with the earth’s surface. Assume that the shuttle position B corresponds to the completion of the OMS burn and that no loss of altitude occurs during the burn.