Logo
Pattern

Discover published sets by community

Explore tens of thousands of sets crafted by our community.

Orbital Mechanisms

10

Flashcards

0/10

Still learning
StarStarStarStar

Orbit Decay

StarStarStarStar

Orbit decay is the gradual lowering of a satellite's orbit due to atmospheric drag. It is particularly relevant for LEO, where the residual atmosphere can slow down satellites, ultimately leading to re-entry and burn-up if not corrected.

StarStarStarStar

Hohmann Transfer Orbit

StarStarStarStar

A Hohmann Transfer Orbit is the most fuel-efficient way to move a spacecraft between two orbits with common focus. It is used to send spacecraft from lower Earth orbit to higher orbits or interplanetary trajectories.

StarStarStarStar

Apogee and Perigee

StarStarStarStar

Apogee is the point in the orbit of a satellite that is farthest from the Earth, and perigee is the closet point. Knowledge of these points is essential for transfer orbits, communications planning, and determining the impact of Earth's gravity on satellite speed.

StarStarStarStar

Delta-v (ΔV)

StarStarStarStar

Delta-v is the change in velocity required to execute an orbital maneuver. It is a critical parameter in mission planning, determining the propellant needed and the feasibility of various mission profiles.

StarStarStarStar

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

StarStarStarStar

Low Earth Orbit is the region of space around Earth at altitudes between about 160 to 2,000 kilometers (100 to 1,200 miles). Satellites in LEO are ideal for observation, imaging, and telecommunications, due to their close proximity to the Earth's surface.

StarStarStarStar

Lagrangian Points

StarStarStarStar

Lagrangian Points are five positions in an orbital configuration where a small object affected only by gravity can theoretically be part of a constant-shape pattern with two larger objects (such as a satellite with the Earth and Moon). These points are used for space observatories and mission staging.

StarStarStarStar

Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

StarStarStarStar

Kepler's Laws describe how planets orbit the Sun, which is crucial for spacecraft navigation and predicting orbits around other celestial bodies. They explain the elliptical nature of orbits, the equal area in equal time rule, and the relationship between orbital period and semi-major axis.

StarStarStarStar

Inclination

StarStarStarStar

Inclination is the angle between the orbital plane of a spacecraft and the equatorial plane of the Earth. It determines the latitudinal coverage of the orbit, affecting potential ground track and observational reach of the spacecraft.

StarStarStarStar

Geostationary Orbit (GEO)

StarStarStarStar

Geostationary Orbit is a circular high Earth orbit where satellites have an orbital period equal to the Earth's rotation period, making them appear stationary relative to a point on the Earth. This is ideal for communications, weather monitoring, and surveillance satellites.

StarStarStarStar

Escape Velocity

StarStarStarStar

Escape velocity is the minimum speed needed for an object to break free from a celestial body's gravitational field without further propulsion. For spacecraft, achieving escape velocity allows for missions to other planets or out of the solar system.

Know
0
Still learning
Click to flip
Know
0
Logo

© Hypatia.Tech. 2024 All rights reserved.