How do satellites work?

7/2/2012 | POWERSBOOTHEFAN

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

Does anyone here have knowledge about space and how satellites work? How are they launched,kept in orbit and brought back to earth?

I'm a science geek and really curious about the universe.

[MtnClimber]

I have worked on many satellite systems and many coworkers have not understood the answer to your question. Satellites are not weightless. They do not just float up in space. Satellite orbits depend on gravity, velocity, altitude and direction of the velocity. Basically satellites are moving with their velocity and falling due to the gravity. When satellites are in circular orbits the distnce travelled from velocity and from falling are equal so the satellite falls in a circle around the earth. Something in a low-velocity, low orbit will travel around the earth in just a few hours (examples are the space shuttle or space station which orbit just a few hundred miles high. At 23.5 thousand miles a circular orbit takes 24 hours. If the direction is west-to-east and the circle is above the equator then the satellite seems to be above the same spot on earth all day. This is called a geosynchronous orbit and takes a large booster rocket to get there. Orbits do not need to be east-west. They can be nrth-south or anything, really. These orbits have strange ground tracks, but low earth orbits are often used for surveilance or mapping, etc. Orbits that are not circular are elliptical. These are often polar-orbiting satellites that have the loft part of the orbit over the north pole. The gravity of the sun and moon as well as solar wind alters orbits so many satellits have means for orbit corrections. Hope this helps.

[Former War Criminal]

Stop gawking at the St. Louis Blues and check out Google.

And go to bed. You have to go to work tomorrow and pay for my Social Security. You do have a job, I hope.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but I really don’t understand your question. You are a good sport for hanging in there and responding however.

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

Thanks for the info. Sometimes I don’t get the answers I’m looking for from the Internet.

Thanks for not taking a swipe at me.

[smokingfrog]

T ² = R ³

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

St. Louis Blues? I am a Tampa Bay Lightning fan.

[JRandomFreeper]

I’m not expecting a college lecture

Oh... you are going to get one. If you really want to learn.

I'm not a scientist, I don't play one on TV, and I don't think I've ever killed one, even accidently. I'm a cook.

But the fma equations are fairly basic to any human.

If I can make those more clear to you, call on me.

I also have recipes. Sometimes for critters you wouldn't think about eating... But I got the recipes.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

Scared the friggin catz off laughing at that post.

I'm breathing normally now. And bleeding from where one launched.

/johnny

[Greysard]

I lived next door to a rocket scientist for over a year. I dont know what he did at work, but I had to help him out with basic household mechanical type things all the time.

There is a lot of theory in rocket science. Not everything is materials and technology. You can build a great engine but the rocket will flip in the air and fall on the ground if the theory is just a bit wrong. Theorists are not good at practical things. But they know what a tensor is.

[leakinInTheBlueSea]

ugh... orbital mechanics. that and modern physics I’ve never really used. At least relativistic physics was entertaining... OM on the other hand, should have been interesting given the lectures were from original notes from the Mercury program, but the retired McDonnell engineer instructing had all the charisma of a sheet of drywall.

[stormhill]

I'm also fascinated with rocket science. Of the different types of orbit the most interesting to me is geosynchronous; the satellite is in orbit around the equator at the same speed as the planet is spinning around its axis so from the surface it appears as if it's motionless in the sky. It happens when the object is about 22,300 miles from earth.

This is the basis for satellite TV which is my field of occupation.

[Former War Criminal]

St. Louis Blues? I am a Tampa Bay Lightning fan.

If you cannot remember what you posted on your About page less than 3 years ago, then it's no wonder you don't remember your high school physics from the the 1990's.

Pay no attention to me. I'm waiting for my laundry to finish so I can go back to bed, and your thread is amusing me.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Shall I slap a dunce cap on my head and stand in the corner? I haven’t taken Astronomy yet."

Your question was loaded. It would require someone to write a few hundred pages of detailed information to even get you started down a path of where then to look for such information.
Regardless of your age. That's fine. Consider books at your local library. If your in High School, perhaps, search your library and local colleges. You frequent the internet.
Log onto NASA.gov. Send them a email to help you find a ton of useful sites, that can help in your quest of knowledge.
Your questions quite frankly where beyond a simple explanation. Take the rough answers as perhaps a guide in that you must become more adapt at doing a lot of "homework".
Regarding "Astronomy". That has nothing to do with rocket flight mechanics, nor satellites design. Nor in the myriad of electronic components that go into the systems that are lifted into space for diverse applications.
But I sense it was an appeal that your on your "way up", in the learning curve. So don't take my writing as a rebutal or rebuke on that statement.
Don't be discouraged by some of the answers. Do understand, if your really serious about seeking knowledge in these particular fields of science/engineering. You will have to be patient with yourself in a long quest of seeking knowledge on the subjects.
Don't be discouraged. Perhaps your a bit on the young side, perhaps not so young. No shame in being older and still wanting to seek knowledge.
I seldom write as long a reply to anyone at this point. But I sense perhaps your innocent in your questions and do seek an answer.
The answer POWERSBOOTTHEFAN to your questions depend on your ambition to seek the answers. Books, Internet are at your disposal. If your in middle school, or high school....seek guidance from your science teachers.
If you have entered a college level. Then the bet is just sweeter you can connect with the science departments, you got a library that can get books galore on the subjects you profess a yearning to understand.
I hope my time at the keyboard has not been a waste of time.
DON'T become discourage. God gave you a brain. Learn how to effectively use it. I have offered you some proven roads to seek what you desire to learn. Now Freeper. It is up to you to reach out with some confidence and seek THE END GOAL.

[MtnClimber]

Satellites operate in a terrible radiation environment so there is no need to bring most down except for manned flights or specialty experiments. The Sun is a huge nuclear fusion reaction. There are even worse cosmic rays from deep space that are travelling near the speed of light and have huge energy levels. All of this damages the internal atomic bonds of semiconductors and they usually fail in less than 20 years. The geosynchronous orbit ring is the most hotly contested for positions or “slots”. The International Tecommunications Union (ITU) has control over the satellite slots and frequencies and requires geo satellites to have fuel and motors to get out of the GEO slot at end of life.

[smokingfrog]

I try to make things simple.

[stormhill]

Wonder what technologies are planned to bring down all the garbage we’ve thrown up into orbit. Even the smallest object could do untold damage to some useful vehicle considering the amazing speeds at which everything is traveling up there.

[goseminoles]

Cool video... thanks...

[smokingfrog]

     Those d@mn unions are everywhere now!

[JRandomFreeper]

Wonder what technologies are planned to bring down all the garbage we’ve thrown up into orbit.

Oh, you are pretty much screwed.

Cope. Swedes got a laser idea in mind but everyone is pissy about that.

/johnny

[oldbill]

http://www.smaphysics.ca/phys40s/field40s/newtmtn.html

[stormhill]

Help me out here.

I'm pretty good in math but don't get the joke.