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Satellite Basics

Satellite Basics. The motion of objects in the Earth’s atmosphere differ from the motion of objects in space in three ways…. An airplane’s flight path and altitude DO NOT depend on the airplane’s speed. An airplane needs air to stay aloft AND steer.

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Satellite Basics

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  1. Satellite Basics

  2. The motion of objects in the Earth’s atmosphere differ from the motion of objects in space in three ways…

  3. An airplane’s flight path and altitude DO NOT depend on the airplane’s speed. • An airplane needs air to stay aloft AND steer. • Air resistance (friction) is constantly acting against the airplane, so it needs to be continuously powered.

  4. Important Terms: • Satellite • Altitude • Orbital speed • Orbital period • Elliptical orbit • Eccentricity

  5. There is a STRICT relationship between a satellite’s orbital speed and its altitude; if this relationship is not followed, the satellite will NOT orbit the Earth. Crashes! Travels off into space!

  6. How Does a Satellite Stay in a Circular Orbit??? • As a satellite orbits Earth, a centripetal force (GRAVITY) pulls the satellite towards the Earth’s center of gravity.

  7. …this centripetal force keeps the satellite in orbit (think of a string attached to a ball that is spun over your head). • The closer the satellite is to Earth (low altitude), the greater the Fc; the greater the Fc, the greater the satellite’s orbital speed. • What happens to the satellite’s Fc and orbital speed as its altitude increases?

  8. Satellite Speeds Are FAST!!! • Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (200km): 7 to 8 km/s (~16,500 mi/hr) (~30x faster than a passenger jet) FYI – Earth’s rotational speed at the equator: 0.46 km/s (~1,000 mi/hr)

  9. PATTERNS?

  10. Elliptical Orbits • In general, most satellite orbits are NOT perfect circles. Rather, they are ellipses. • Circle = a set of points equidistant from a center. • Ellipse = a set of points around two centers (called focii).

  11. Eccentricity .0167 .0549 • Eccentricity = 0…….a perfect circle. • Larger eccentricity is a more “stretched out” ellipse. (perigee, apogee, major/minor axis, orbital speed) 0.967 .000016

  12. (perigee, apogee, major/minor axis, orbital speed)

  13. Types of Satellites Astronomy satellites

  14. Atmospheric Studies Satellites

  15. Communications Satellites

  16. Weather Satellites

  17. GPS Satellites

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