Actually what happens is that as the speed increases, the orbital height increases. If you take the speed that a LEO travels at, and impose it on a GEO, the GEO will reduce its altitude until it reaches a LEO orbit. Works the same if you impose a GEO speed on a LEO. Not so simple physics determines the altitude from the speed. Basically what happens is that all the forces (earth's gravitational pull, circular momentum of the satellite, and many others) on the satellite will equal out, and that will determine the orbital characteristics. The flight patterns of the launch vehicle determine the orbit shape. For example, some will simply go straight up, then tip over and burn to reach the final orbit velocity (orbit insertion). Others will go up and then have several maneuvers to achieve the desired orbit. To reach GEO, lots of them will go into what they call a transfer orbit, and then maneuver out of that one into their assigned location. Orbital mechanics is a well known, but complex field. I freely admit to not being an expert. I only build the birds that get there. Later Lloyd Thomson OSSS www.osss.com lloyd.thomson@osss.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Mitchell" <escape@velocity.net> To: "SeeSat" <SeeSat-L@satobs.org> Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2001 12:53 PM Subject: Newbie GEO question Greetings, I'm new to the list and have a question regarding GEO sat's. At what speeds do they travel? I realize that relative to the earth at 22,000 miles they travel 0, but let's say bring their orbit down to LEO, how fast would they be traveling? 17,500? I was able to observe one in my homemade 10" telescope, very cool. Stars move, Satellite doesn't. Thanks in advance, Bill www.velocity.net/~escape ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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