The Physics Of Satellites Orbiting Earth - 2079 Words

Satellites orbiting earth will experience external perturbations that can affect the orbit. The primary force acting on the satellite depends on the altitude of the orbit. The most significant effect is caused by atmospheric drag which affects satellites in low earth orbit. Outside of low earth orbit, satellites still experience external forces that could change the orbit however unlike atmospheric drag, the orbit altitude will not necessarily decrease. In addition to atmospheric drag, satellites are subject to thermal drag and gravity perturbations. Atmospheric Drag: (Author: Emma) Atmospheric drag effects all spacecraft orbiting earth below 2,000 km, producing both short periodic and slow perturbations. It is the is the largest source of error in modeling the force on many satellites because it is difficult to predict [2]. Atmospheric drag is caused by the collisions of gas molecules with the spacecraft. Over time, the collisions start to decay the orbit. Demonstrating a positive feedback effect, where drag decreases the orbital altitude where the density is greater which produces more drag which then decays quicker. Factors that influence drag are the atmospheric drag surrounding the spacecraft, as well as the spacecrafts drag coefficient, area, mass and velocity [1]. The atmospheric density is not constant and changes with solar activity. The solar magnetic activity cycle is the periodic change in the sun s activity that lasts around 11 years. During solar maximum,Show MoreRelatedShould Space Be Commercialized?1393 Words   |  6 Pagesspace travel routine. Introduction I. Attention getting device: To get your guys’ attention I have some really recent news concerning the future of space. The European Space Agency just landed a research probe on a comet 300 million miles away from earth! II. Relevance of topic to audience: Whether you realize it or not the negative effects of commercializing space effect your health and your everyday lives. III. Establish credibility: After my last speech I learned a lot about space travel. It wasRead MoreTaking a Look at Orbital Mechanics661 Words   |  3 Pagesgravitational constant (GM) and also Kepler and his three laws of planetary motion. Though my interest did not sprout from who was involved with orbital mechanics, but the orbital mechanics themselves. I’ve always had an interest in astronomy and physics, and this seems like the perfect combinations of both. There are six general aspects of orbital mechanic elements eccentricity (e), semi-major axis (a), inclination (i), argument of periapsis (ω), time of periapsis passage (T), and longitude ofRead More Galileo: The Father of Science Essay examples1798 Words   |  8 PagesGalileo was a teacher, astronomer, philosopher, and physicist and was known to be a major part of the scientific revolution. With all of his elaborate drawings and notes he has been referred to as the father of modern astronomy, father of modern physics, and as father of science. Galileos experimentation was an active process involved the investigating of causal relationships among variables. His studies in scientific experimentation would quickly become and forever remain a cornerstone of unlockingRead MoreA Vicious Cycle1094 Words   |  5 Pagesdeployment of space weapons is currently beyond present technology. Although earth-to-space based laser systems, specifically Anti-Satellite weapons (ASATs), have in fact been shown to damage satellites orbiting in space, the same cannot be said for space-to-earth weapons systems. Aside from the scientific hurdles that must be crossed in zero-gravity conditions, which affect the everyday physics inherent in our current earth-based weapons, it is very difficult to launch one of these systems reliablyRead MoreA Thesis Statement On Neil Armstrong s Moon1091 Words   |  5 Pagestransportation. Space exploration has also resulted in remarkable innovations that has played a key role in aeronautics research, preventative medicine, and allows scientists to study asteroids, along with other space debris and their impacts on Earth. II. Body Paragraph 1 – Topic Sentence 1 With the threat of Congress cutting NASA s budget, the United State s sixty year preeminence in space exploration is in serious peril.. A. Supporting Evidence In the 2013 article â€Å"Budget Gains For PhysicalRead MoreBiography Of Nicolaus Copernicus s Discovery Of Heliocentrism Transformed Astronomy1940 Words   |  8 PagesLatin America and Europe, people started to question the Catholic Church and began doubting if the Church was abusing their power. After the Scientific Revolution, philosophical thinkers and scientists discovered new theories, such as gravitational physics laws and other opinions written in books. Nicolaus Copernicus’s discovery of heliocentrism transformed astronomy, his writings changed the people’s perspective of the universe further challenging the Catholic Church’s beliefs. Before Copernicus,Read MoreThe Expansion Of Space Architecture1610 Words   |  7 Pagesarchitecture in space could help humanity to maintain Earth as well as to explore other planets broadening our knowledge of the Universe. Recent Space Projects Visiting other planets is splendid, no doubt. But the stated argument for colonizing them as insurance policy in case of global disaster seems senseless. Yes, humanity definitely has to survive, but it goes to our Mother Earth too! Scientists often talk about ‘terraforming’ or ‘Earth-shaping’ different planets, deliberately modifying itsRead MoreQuantum Theory Of Time Essay1418 Words   |  6 PagesA recent experiment published in Science this June focused not on the size of objects, but on the ability of quantum effects to span large distances. In the study, scientists pulsed a laser through a crystal aboard a Chinese satellite orbiting about 300 miles above the earth. The process generated pairs of ‘entangled’ photons, which were subsequently separated and sent to two cities in China about 750 miles apart. When researchers measured the photons, they were still mysteriously connected. MultipleRead MoreThe Need to Renewable Sources of Energy16 44 Words   |  7 Pageslighting and water heating, satellite, power security systems, electric fencing etc. 1.2 JUSTIFICATION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH Because there is no solar cell characterization laboratory experiment for undergraduate students, there is need to develop one. 1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT Kenya is catching up in the renewable energy sector but institutions of higher learning are lagging behind. Only a few have embraced solar education. For example, The Department of Physics at The University of NairobiRead MoreAnne: Armageddon Reaction Paper1265 Words   |  6 Pagesexplosions! Shouting, running, screaming, fighting! Fire, tremors, crashes and collisions!   In the movie Armageddon, who are the evil ones? They are thousands of rocks led by an asteroid the size of Texas that threatens to extinguish life on Earth? And who are the good ones? They are a motley makeshift group of old-drillers who will risk their lives in a daring rocket journey to save the world. A few NASA astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut are also thrown in to help steer the two shuttle spacecrafts