Some simple results about the Lambert problem

We give simple proofs of some simple statements concerning the Lambert problem. We first restate and reprove the known existence and uniqueness results for the Keplerian arc. We also prove in some cases that the elapsed time is a convex function of natural parameters. Our statements and proofs do not distinguish between the three types of Keplerian conic section, elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic. We also prove non-uniqueness results and non-convexity results. We do not develop any algorithm of resolution, limiting ourselves to such obviously useful a priori questions: How many solutions should we expect? Can we be sure that the Newton method will converge?

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