DescartesHELP: I need a physics refresher course.
When orbiting a planet, if I accelerate to go faster will I move closer to the planet or further away? I seem to remember things work contrary to common sense.
Similarly, In orbit, how do I catch up with something traveling faster ahead of me?
Accelerating prograde will move the opposing point in your orbit further away, and accelerating retrograde will move it closer, most notably when you are near/at periapsis or apoapsis. Lower orbits have shorter periods, so if you need to play catch-up, decrease your orbital period to something less than your target, or increase it and let it catch up to you instead. I will assume planar adjustments are not relevant in your scenario since you did not bring it up. If you need to actually rendezvous, you will need to match orbital parameters making minor adjustments on approach.