Various Artificial Satellites – Understanding Satellite Orbits and Geostationary Orbit
Control: Yellow Green Red
Description :
This is a page where you can explore various satellite orbits.
Artificial satellites have different altitudes and orbits depending on their purposes.
The International Space Station orbits at an altitude of about 400 km, while geostationary satellites such as weather satellites travel in a special orbit called the geostationary orbit, which is located about 36,000 km above the equator.
In a geostationary orbit, a satellite moves with the same angular velocity as Earth’s rotation, so from the ground it appears to remain fixed at the same point in the sky.
So, with this simulation that calculates the equations of motion and displays them in CG, let’s take a look at different satellite orbits.
● With the "*Start/Stop" button, you can start or stop the flow of time.
The yellow object represents the International Space Station, the green one a satellite at an altitude of 10,000 km, and the red one a geostationary satellite.
The Earth in the center rotates, with a red section that turns to indicate its rotation. You should be able to see that the geostationary satellite rotates in the same way as the Earth’s rotation.
●You can change the speed of the simulation time with the “Fast/Slow” button.
●You can view the shape of the orbit with the “Trail” button.
●You can return to the initial state with the “Reset” button.
●By selecting a satellite with the control checkboxes and dragging near its velocity vector, you can adjust its speed and try new orbits. If the satellite falls to Earth, the simulation will restart from the initial state.
●You can change the scale using the slider at the bottom right of the screen.
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