How does a geostationary satellite stay in place?
Because the satellite orbits at the same speed that the Earth is turning, the satellite seems to stay in place over a single longitude, though it may drift north to south. Satellites in geostationary orbit rotate with the Earth directly above the equator, continuously staying above the same spot.
Do satellites travel at different speeds?
No, satellites that orbit at different altitudes have different speeds. These satellites travel at about 11,000 kilometers per hour (7,000 miles per hour). The moon, at about 380,000 kilometers from the earth (240,000 miles) only travels about 3,700 kilometers per hour (2,300 miles per hour).
Do satellites stay still in orbit?
The Earth is curving away while both the rocket and the satellite “fall” around the Earth. The satellite stays in that orbit as long as it keeps its speed to stay balanced by the headwinds. But at altitudes of 600 km—where the International Space Station orbits—satellites can stay up for decades.
How do you find the speed of a satellite in orbit?
This speed, v g, is what you use to find how much time is going faster for the satellite. The speed of a (circular) orbit can be found by setting the gravitational force equal to centrifugal: . This speed, v s, is what you plug in to find how much time is going slower.
How do satellites maintain a closed orbit around the Earth?
This happens at a specific speed. Astronomers call this speed the orbital velocity of the satellite. So, in essence, a satellite’s ability to maintain a closed orbit results from a balance between two factors: its speed (at which it would travel in a straight line), and the gravitational pull between the satellite and the planet it is orbiting.
Why do GPS satellites need their clocks adjusted to match Earth’s time?
The original question was: I read that due to time dilation from both gravity and speed, GPS satellites need their clocks adjusted to match Earth’s time or else the whole idea would fall flat on its face.
How does the speed of a satellite affect its deflection?
A satellite that moves faster will get less deflected by the gravitational pull than a slower satellite. This figure shows a range from slow (light blue) to faster satellites with increasing darkness in color.