Climate and Global Change Notes 6-1 Satellite Fundamentals Types of Orbit Lower Earth Orbits (LEO) Polar Orbits Medium Earth Orbits (MEO) Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEO) Geosynchronous Orbits (GEO) Temporal Resolution Science Concepts Circular Motion Newton’s Laws of Motion First Law Second Law Centripetal Acceleration Acceleration of Gravity QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video dec Observing Climate - Remote Sensing
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Climate and Global Change Notes 6-1 Satellite Fundamentals Types of Orbit Lower Earth Orbits (LEO) Polar Orbits Medium Earth Orbits (MEO) Highly Elliptical.
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- Force of attraction between two objects - in this case the satellite and the Earth
Const * (Mass of Earth) * (Mass of satellite)
(Distance) 2
where “Distance” is the distance between the centers of the Earth and the satellite, i.e., the radius of the satellite orbit. Const = 6.67259 * 10 -11 m3 kg -1 s -2
Satellite Orbits (Con’t)
• Gravitational Force supplies the needed Centripetal Force for satellites. Thus,
(Orbital velocity) 2 = Const * (Mass of Earth) Radius of satellite orbit
Science quotes of 5th and 6th graders -
The law of gravity says no fair jumping up without coming back down.
Satellite Observations
Climate and Global Change Notes
6-7
Satellite Orbits (Con’t)
• Note that the Mass of the Earth is a constant, so
(Orbital velocity) 2 = Konstant .Radius of satellite orbit
• Also recall that the definition of velocity is distance / time or d / t. The distance a satellite make in orbiting the Earth is 2 ( Radius of the satellite orbit ). Thus,
( Orbital velocity ) = 2 ( Radius of the satellite orbit ) Period of the orbit
or (2 ( Radius of the satellite orbit )) 2 = Konstant .
( Period of the orbit ) 2 Radius of satellite orbit
Solving for the Period yields
( Period of the orbit ) 2 = Konst ( Radius of the satellite orbit ) 3
Satellite Observations
Climate and Global Change Notes
6-8
Satellite Orbits
• Orbital velocity –Velocity required for an object to orbit the Earth at a specific radius
Science quotes of 5th and 6th graders -
When people run around and around in circles we say they are crazy. When planets do it we say they are orbiting.
Satellite Observations
Climate and Global Change Notes
6-9
Types of Orbits
• Lower Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Orbit at 500 - 3,000 km above the Earth (definition varies)
- Used for reconnaissance, localized weather and imaging of natural resources.
- Space shuttle can launch and retrieve satellites in this orbit
- Now coming into use for personal voice and data communications
- Weather satellites
> Polar orbit - Note, as the satellite orbits, the Earth is turningunderneath. Current NOAA satellites orbit about 700 - 850 km above Earth’s surface