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Could using the gravity of another celestial body allow for something like a bi-elliptic transfer
that uses less delta-v than the theoretical "infinite apogee" delta-v requirement?

If yes, has such a transfer ever actually been performed?

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  • $\begingroup$ Do you mean a secondary celestial body in addition to the primary? $\endgroup$ Mar 7, 2014 at 1:17
  • $\begingroup$ Yes. ${}{}{}\;$ $\endgroup$
    – user2822
    Mar 7, 2014 at 1:24

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Do you mean like this? In that case, a geosynchronous satellite stranded in a 51° inclination orbit used a very high apogee transfer with two lunar flybys at the high apogee to remove 40° of that inclination.

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  • $\begingroup$ It would be like that. $\;$ $\endgroup$
    – user2822
    Mar 7, 2014 at 3:47

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