THE

Big Bang Daily

Wednsday, 16th of November 2016

ALL ABOUT THE BIG SPACE WE LIVE IN

EXCLUSIVE INFO TODAY

Rendezvous
Catch-up orbit
The best launch window for a
catch-up orbit is one that
places the ship into the same
orbital plane as the target but
with a significantly lower orbit.
The important measure is the
difference between the semimajor axis, since the semimajor axis defines the time
needed for one revolution
around Earth. The point at
which the spacecraft should
leave the (almost circular)
catch-up orbit can be
calculated using this formula:
NASA and other U.S. and international organizations keep track of
satellites in space. Collisions are rare because when a satellite is
launched, it is placed into an orbit designed to avoid other satellites.
But orbits can change over time. And the chances of a crash
increase as more and more satellites are launched into space.
DID YOU KNOW?
That Sputnik 1 was the first satellite in space. The Soviet Union launched
it in 1957. The Sputnik launch changed everything. As a technical
achievement, Sputnik caught the world's attention and the American public
off-guard. Its size was more impressive than Vanguard's intended 3.5pound payload. In addition, the public feared that the Soviets' ability to
launch satellites also translated into the capability to launch ballistic
missiles that could carry nuclear weapons from Europe to the U.S.

Citations
1. www.nasa.gov
2. http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/
3. https://www.scribd.com/document/47822340/NASA-Facts-Unity-Connecting-Module-

Cornerstone-for-a-Home-in-Orbit

How Do Satellites Stay in Orbit?

What Is A Satellite?". NASA. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.

In astronomy, a satellite is an object that orbits (goes

around) a planet. There are several hundred natural
satellites, or moons, in our Solar System. Thousands of
artificial (human-made) satellites have also been launched
since 1957. These have many different uses, and include
communications satellites, weather satellites and the
International Space Station.
The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was very simple - a
small aluminium ball with four long antennas - but modern
ones are much more complicated. Most satellites are
designed to be as strong and light as possible. They are
built using the same basic model. A platform called a bus
contains all the main systems, including the batteries,
computer and thrusters. Attached to the bus are antennas,
solar arrays and payload instruments (such as cameras,
telescopes and communications equipment).

Citations
https://youtu.be/OmFHwQkCYlQ
Williams, Matt and Matt Williams. "How Satellites Stay In Orbit - Universe Today". Universe Today. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Nov.
2016.
"What Is A Satellite?". NASA. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.

How Do Satellites Orbit Earth?

Most satellites are launched into space on rockets. A satellite orbits Earth when its speed is balanced by the pull of Earth's
gravity. Without this balance, the satellite would fly in a straight line off into space or fall back to Earth. Satellites orbit Earth
at different heights, different speeds and along different paths. The two most common types of orbit are "geostationary"

"

(jee-oh-STAY-shun-air-ee) and "polar. A geostationary satellite travels from west to east over the equator. It moves in the
same direction and at the same rate Earth is spinning. From Earth, a geostationary satellite looks like it is standing still
since it is always above the same location.Polar-orbiting satellites travel in a north-south direction from pole to pole. As
Earth spins underneath, these satellites can scan the entire globe, one strip at a time.

How does a satellite stay in orbit

without falling?

How Do Satellites Stay in Orbit Around a

Planet?
(Video)