Trans-Earth injection
A trans-Earth injection (TEI) is a propulsion
The maneuver is performed by a rocket engine.
From the Moon
The spacecraft is usually in a parking orbit around the Moon at the time of TEI, in which case the burn is timed so that its midpoint is opposite the Earth's location upon arrival. Uncrewed space probes have also performed this maneuver from the Moon starting with Luna 16's direct ascent traverse from the lunar surface in 1970.
On the
List of missions that performed a Trans-Earth injection
Total 16 missions have performed such a maneuver. NASA has performed it the most (10 times), followed by Soviet Union (3 times), China (2 times), and India (once). These missions are in order,
- Apollo 8
- Apollo 10
- Apollo 11
- Apollo 12
- Luna 16
- Apollo 14
- Apollo 15
- Luna 20
- Apollo 16
- Apollo 17
- Luna 24
- Clementine
- Chang'e 5-T1
- Chang'e 5
- Artemis 1
- Chandrayaan-3
From outside the Earth-Moon system
In 2004, from outside the Earth-Moon system, the Stardust probe comet dust return mission performed TEI after visiting Comet Wild 2.
See also
- Lunar orbit insertion
- Trans-lunar injection
- Trans-Mars injection
References
- ISBN 1-896522-50-5.
- ^ "Returns to home Earth: Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module moved from Lunar orbit to Earth's orbit". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved December 4, 2023.