5.3.3 Explore - Satellite Motion (Exploration) (1)
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5.3.3
Explore: Satellite Motion Exploration
Physics Honors Sem 1
Name: Akul Murthy
Date: 7/24/22
In this practice, you will apply what you have learned in the lesson. Answer the
questions below. Submit this to your teacher when you are done.
1. Use this link to answer questions about the different types of satellites
that orbit Earth. (11 points)
Three Classes of Orbit
a. Define geosynchronous and geostationary orbits. Which type is better
for monitoring weather? (3 points)
Geosynchronous orbit is a type of special, high Earth orbit. Satellites in a
geosynchronous orbit tend to revolve around the equator of the Earth. A
geostationary orbit does not move at all relative to the ground. It is always
directly over the same place on the Earth’s surface. A geostationary orbit is
better for weather monitoring because satellites in this orbit provide a
constant view of the same surface area.
b. What are the Lagrange points? Which Lagrange point is best for
monitoring space, and why? (3 points)
The Lagrange points are orbital sweet spots. At the Lagrange points, the
pull of gravity from the Earth cancels out the pull of gravity from the Sun.
The best Lagrange point for monitoring space is the second Lagrange
point. Since the Sun and Earth are in a single line, satellites at this location
only need one heat shield to block heat and light from the Sun and Earth. It
is a good location for space telescopes.
c. Which orbit is used for GPS satellites? Why? (2 points)
GPS satellites are usually placed at a medium Earth orbit known as a
semi-synchronous orbit. This is because this orbit is highly consistent and
predictable.
d. Describe the velocity of a satellite as it approaches and moves away
from Earth in a Molniya orbit. Is the Molniya orbit circular or elliptical? (3
points)
Because the Molniya orbit is accelerated by our planet’s gravity, the
satellite moves very quickly when it is close to the Earth. As it moves away,
its speed slows, so it spends more time at the top of its orbit farthest from
the Earth. The Molniya orbit follows a highly elliptical shape, not a circular
one.
2. Use this article to answer questions about cleaning up satellites and other
debris orbiting Earth. (7 points)
Cleaning up Earth's orbit: A Swiss satellite to tackle space
debris
a. Why is space debris a problem? List two reasons. (2 points)
Space debris is a problem because it can damage space
telescopes/impair their view and can cause billions of dollars
worth of damages to satellites.
b. What are the three technological hurdles that engineers will
have to overcome when designing CleanSpace One? (3 points)
Three technological hurdles that engineers will have to
overcome when designing CleanSpace One are adjusting the
trajectory to match the target orbital, grabbing and stabilizing
the space debris, and
de-orbiting the unwanted debris by
heading back into the Earth’s atmosphere, where the two
satellites will burn upon re-entry.
c. What happened on February 10, 2009? How much are existing satellites
insured for, in case this happens again? (2 points)
On that date, the Russian satellite
Cosmos-2251
(which was retired) crashed into
the U.S.
satellite Iridium-33 and exploded. Existing satellites are now insured at
$20 billion!
3. Use this article to answer questions about sending a satellite into orbit. (7
points)
Delta 4 rocket boosts weather satellite into orbit
a. The rocket that launched the satellite had two rocket stages, as well as
onboard thrusters. Describe how the two rocket stages and the onboard thrusters
maneuvered the satellite into orbit. (3 points)
The Delta 4's first stage performed normally, boosting the vehicle to an altitude of
about 90 miles before falling away four-and-a-half minutes after liftoff. The
rocket's second stage then lofted the spacecraft into an initial parking orbit
before two additional firings needed to place the 7,000-pound GOES-O satellite
into an elliptical transfer orbit with a high point of about 21,800 miles and a low
point of 4,100 miles.
b. Describe the main purposes of the Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite (GOES) system. (2 points)
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The main purposes of the GOES system are
observing the Atlantic Ocean, the
Gulf of Mexico, and the East Coast for critical for hurricane tracking; providing an
imaging system and a sounder that collects atmospheric data needed to predict
surface and cloud-top temperatures, moisture content, and ozone distribution;
and measuring energetic particles blown off by the sun, to monitor Earth's
geomagnetic field.
c. Identify two things the space environmental sensors on the new GOES
satellites monitor. (2 points)
Two things that the space environmental sensors on the new GOES satellites
monitor are
energetic particles blown off by the sun (to monitor Earth's
geomagnetic field) and X-ray and ultraviolet emissions from powerful solar flares
that can disrupt communications.