Orbits are the pathways taken by objects under the influence of the gravity of another object. These trajectories are governed by the fundamental laws of gravity and the motion of the object. The ability to calculate the orbit of an object, be it a planet, moon, asteroid, or spacecraft, makes it possible to predict where it will be in the future. Both solar system objects and spacecraft can be found in a wide range of orbits, including specific types of Earth orbits that are particularly useful for some types of spacecraft.

All objects in space are attracted to all other objects by the force of gravity. In the case of an object orbiting a planet or other celestial body, where the mass of the object is much less than the mass of the planet, the object will fall towards the planet. However, if the object has some initial...