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Q. Do all man-made satellites orbit the Earth west to East ?
Hi,
Do all man made satellites that we've sent up to orbit the earth orbit in the same direction as the earth's rotation? As I understand from earlier posts, that's the direction that rockets are sent up to benefit from fuel savings, while launching something into orbit. If I udnerstand correctly, some communications satellites are stationary in their position above the earth for things like people's direct tv reception, etc. Some I understand actually orbit around Earth's poles. Thanks, Jim |
#2
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No, some are in polar obit, others are in orbit around Mars, Jupiter, and one
will be in orbit around Saturn within a few months. -- "In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening towards an east that would not know another dawn. But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go again." Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars SIAR www.starlords.org Bishop's Car Fund http://www.bishopcarfund.Netfirms.com/ Freelance Writers Shop http://www.freelancewrittersshop.netfirms.com Telescope Buyers FAQ http://home.inreach.com/starlord "Jim Jones" wrote in message ... Hi, Do all man made satellites that we've sent up to orbit the earth orbit in the same direction as the earth's rotation? As I understand from earlier posts, that's the direction that rockets are sent up to benefit from fuel savings, while launching something into orbit. If I udnerstand correctly, some communications satellites are stationary in their position above the earth for things like people's direct tv reception, etc. Some I understand actually orbit around Earth's poles. Thanks, Jim --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.510 / Virus Database: 307 - Release Date: 8/14/03 |
#3
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Yes. Most are launched west to east to take advantage of the Earth's
rotational velocity. To go from east to west would mean first countering that initial velocity, then continuing to accelerate to orbital speed in the opposite direction---using more fuel in the process. Quite a few are launched into polar orbits for various reasons. And geosynchronous orbits (one revolution per day, exactly matching the Earth's rotation) are advantageous for a number of applications, not just communication. "Jim Jones" wrote in message ... Hi, Do all man made satellites that we've sent up to orbit the earth orbit in the same direction as the earth's rotation? As I understand from earlier posts, that's the direction that rockets are sent up to benefit from fuel savings, while launching something into orbit. If I udnerstand correctly, some communications satellites are stationary in their position above the earth for things like people's direct tv reception, etc. Some I understand actually orbit around Earth's poles. Thanks, Jim |
#4
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On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 05:06:51 GMT, Jim Jones
wrote: Hi, Do all man made satellites that we've sent up to orbit the earth orbit in the same direction as the earth's rotation? As I understand from earlier posts, that's the direction that rockets are sent up to benefit from fuel savings, while launching something into orbit. If I udnerstand correctly, some communications satellites are stationary in their position above the earth for things like people's direct tv reception, etc. Some I understand actually orbit around Earth's poles. Thanks, Jim You are right. To have a GREAT look in 3D at satellites around Earth, take a look at: http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/RealTim.../JTrack3D.html Benoît Morrissette Benoît Morrissette |
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In message , Jim Jones
writes Hi, Do all man made satellites that we've sent up to orbit the earth orbit in the same direction as the earth's rotation? As I understand from earlier posts, that's the direction that rockets are sent up to benefit from fuel savings, while launching something into orbit. If I udnerstand correctly, some communications satellites are stationary in their position above the earth for things like people's direct tv reception, etc. Some I understand actually orbit around Earth's poles. AFAIK the only satellites that don't orbit in the same direction are Israeli spy satellites, which are sent east to west so their rockets don't fall on unfriendly neighbours. You're right saying that communication satellites and some others are "stationary", but they are still moving west to east, but at the same angular rate as the Earth below. And finally, satellites don't orbit "around" the poles but they can have orbits taking them over both poles, going north to south/south to north, or even slightly west of north so their inclination to the equator is more than 90 degrees. -- "Roads in space for rockets to travel....four-dimensional roads, curving with relativity" Mail to jsilverlight AT merseia.fsnet.co.uk is welcome. Or visit Jonathan's Space Site http://www.merseia.fsnet.co.uk |
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