A4_6 Leap Years

Abstract

In this paper we assess the feasibility of using a rocket to push the Earth into an orbit with a
period of exactly 365 days, thus eliminating the need for leap years. Assuming circular orbits, we find that moving the Earth into an orbit of the desired period would require a change in velocity of 6.3989 ms^-1. A rocket with a specic impulse of 400 seconds would need to consume 9.735x10^21 kg of propellent to produce this velocity change, meaning that the idea is not feasible using current rocket technology.