Posted on 03/29/2018 12:57:17 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Newtons laws tell us that satellites orbit the Earth in perfectly circular or elliptical orbits, repeating their path again and again (assuming that gravity is the only force acting on them). However, this is not true at low altitudes, say below 1,000km, because the satellite is then moving through the Earths atmosphere. This causes aerodynamic drag (air resistance) a force that opposes the satellites velocity, which effectively turns the orbit into a downward spiral towards the Earths surface.
In theory, we can calculate drag perfectly to predict the path of a satellite. This can be done using an equation that depends on the velocity of the satellite (v²), the density of the atmosphere (ρ), a numerical coefficient that depends on the shape of the satellite and its orientation with respect to the airflow (C), and the objects area (A). For those who are interested, the equation is: D = ½ × C × ρ × A × v². But you dont have to understand the equation to grasp why it is so hard to calculate drag.
The spacecrafts velocity is easy to measure fairly accurately using observations. However, the other parameters are highly uncertain making it difficult to determine Tiangong-1s path. For vehicles such as cars and aircraft, C can be estimated theoretically or with computational fluid dynamics and measured experimentally in a wind tunnel. The main problem here is that Tiangong-1s shape is complex, and the object is uncontrolled and tumbling chaotically, resulting in a constantly changing C.
The other unknown is the density of the atmosphere, which decreases with altitude. However, particularly at high altitudes, this varies due to a number of unpredictable factors the most important of which is solar activity.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
LOL
And you know it's his fault.......
Are you the one who has the photo of orbiting space debris?
Word!
Really? How high would you say that satellites and space debris are in orbit? In feet or miles...
The ISS is about 350 km above sea level at any given time. That’s about 200 miles. That’s considered low earth orbit, but orbits can be as low as 100 miles and still take years for their orbits to decay. Geosynchronous orbit is about 22,000 miles high, where a lot of communications satellites reside. Those are impossible to see with your eyes due to the distance.
“I missed!”
It looks like the “end game” here. ( I’m just waiting for a few minutes to see what our new minimum altitude will be ... was about 172 km, so just waiting here ...
... well, hit 171.50, not so much lower but 160 is “death”, so we have to see how it goes, orbit by orbit.
There’s a lot of variation in altitude that is not accounted for by the models we see, so I wonder if the “variable atmosphere” isn’t something of an excuse for laziness, as I see it.
Anyway, we’re close.
Go away idiot.
And, in remembrance of our Lord's suffering for each and every sin we have ever committed, and of His resurrection from the dead --
(a miracle equal to the miracle of His creation, borne of the same power of His Holy Spirit)
... Let's never forget what Wernher Von Braun, science idol of NASAites everywhere, put on his tombstone:
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork."
www.findagrave.com/memorial/4323/wernher-magnus_maximilian-von_braun#view-photo=83103
And may the Lord give you the grace to go away and stop polluting Free Republic with your rank ignorance and sad trolling.
And may the Lord give you the wisdom to understand Truth wrapped in Love is the essence of the Kingdom.
Over 400 km.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80y2LP1bWH4
Proven.
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