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Question about satelites

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Re: Question about satelites
Post by fallsfromtrees   » Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:38 pm

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6L6 wrote:fallsfromtrees, I was thinking the same as you that it is parked on the equator at the same long. as Chisholm and that the satelite would be visible (if you could see it) closer to the horizon and still be accessible from Chisholm.

Since Safehold is about the same size and gravity as Earth, geosynch orbit will be about 22,400 miles out, so the satellite should be visible almost to the arctic.
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Re: Question about satelites
Post by Thucydides   » Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:26 pm

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A satellite can also be placed in an "inclined" geosynch orbit, which would appear to the observer on the ground to move in a figure 8 pattern across the sky, with the lobes being N and S of the equator, crossing at the equator.
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Re: Question about satelites
Post by fallsfromtrees   » Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:27 am

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Thucydides wrote:A satellite can also be placed in an "inclined" geosynch orbit, which would appear to the observer on the ground to move in a figure 8 pattern across the sky, with the lobes being N and S of the equator, crossing at the equator.

If it truly in a geosynch orbit, it will be a straight line N and S from the equator. The longitude will stay the same, so there is no E/W movement, hence no figure 8.
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Re: Question about satelites
Post by Kizarvexis   » Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:57 am

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I believe the Federation tech had counter gravity tech, so parked in orbit could mean it is using counter gravity.
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Re: Question about satelites
Post by fallsfromtrees   » Sun Jan 25, 2015 1:32 am

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Kizarvexis wrote:I believe the Federation tech had counter gravity tech, so parked in orbit could mean it is using counter gravity.

Perhaps. Do we have textev of this? and fusion powered or not, it would seem that it might attract the attention of the OBS, although it is probably what is used in the recon skimmers and lorries that Merlin has been/will be using.
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Re: Question about satelites
Post by Dilandu   » Sun Jan 25, 2015 6:19 am

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Seems more logical that sattelite is simply mantaining GSO, and the therm "permanently parked" was used just for simplification.

P.S. As i recall - Cauldron is almost on the equator, according to the map?
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Re: Question about satelites
Post by fallsfromtrees   » Sun Jan 25, 2015 1:19 pm

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Dilandu wrote:Seems more logical that sattelite is simply mantaining GSO, and the therm "permanently parked" was used just for simplification.

P.S. As i recall - Cauldron is almost on the equator, according to the map?

Right, the Cauldron is almost Geosynch. The one over Chisholm is more problematical, as Chisholm appears to be at about latitude 45 degrees N.
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Re: Question about satelites
Post by Louis R   » Sun Jan 25, 2015 8:04 pm

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only true in a 2-body system where the satellite is in orbit around a point mass. in the real world a variety of effect will lead to drift, whence the figure 8 actually observed.

fallsfromtrees wrote:
Thucydides wrote:A satellite can also be placed in an "inclined" geosynch orbit, which would appear to the observer on the ground to move in a figure 8 pattern across the sky, with the lobes being N and S of the equator, crossing at the equator.

If it truly in a geosynch orbit, it will be a straight line N and S from the equator. The longitude will stay the same, so there is no E/W movement, hence no figure 8.
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Re: Question about satelites
Post by Louis R   » Sun Jan 25, 2015 8:16 pm

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a point of pedantry: it's closer to 25000 - orbital period of 26.5hr, not 24

fallsfromtrees wrote:
6L6 wrote:fallsfromtrees, I was thinking the same as you that it is parked on the equator at the same long. as Chisholm and that the satelite would be visible (if you could see it) closer to the horizon and still be accessible from Chisholm.

Since Safehold is about the same size and gravity as Earth, geosynch orbit will be about 22,400 miles out, so the satellite should be visible almost to the arctic.
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Re: Question about satelites
Post by Thucydides   » Sun Jan 25, 2015 10:21 pm

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To counter the natural orbital path of a satellite will require some sort of application of energy, which should be obvious to outside observers (especially the orbiting bombardment system).

Using known technology, you wold have to be thrusting constantly with some sort of rocket, or suspended beneath a huge solar sail (Statite). If using anti gravity, you are somehow building a "mountain" out of space/time to lift yourself out of the gravity well, which should have all kinds of odd effects that the enemy AI would notice.

So using some sort of "handwavium" to suspend yourself in space in defiance of orbital mechanics will draw unwanted attention to yourself.
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