Velocity and Direction

The Six Directions

In space, there are six fundamental directions for thrust:

Prograde: In the direction you're moving (speeds you up) Retrograde: Opposite to your motion (slows you down) Normal: Perpendicular to your orbit plane (up) Anti-normal: Opposite normal (down) Radial: Toward the planet Anti-radial: Away from the planet

These directions are relative to your current orbit, not fixed in space.

Why Direction Matters

The direction you burn determines what part of your orbit changes:

- Burning prograde raises the opposite side of your orbit - Burning retrograde lowers the opposite side - Burning normal or anti-normal tilts your orbital plane - Burning radial changes your orbit shape but wastes fuel

This is the foundation of all orbital maneuvers!