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If I have the Keplerian elements for two orbits, how do I compute the shortest distance between these two orbits in 3D space? Is there any analytical expression to compute that?

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    This is already quite difficult in 2D: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_of_closest_approach_of_ellipses_and_ellipsoids . It may not be solved in 3D. It is of course not difficult to solve numerically.2010-12-06

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