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No. An object stays in orbit simply by a balance of its existing speed tangent to its direction of fall and a constant rate of falling toward whatever it orbits.
Because space, particularly near the Earth, is not a perfect vacuum, there is a certain amount of friction and the orbit of satellites in low orbits does decay over time. For this reason, some satellites do have rocket motors to periodically boost their orbit back up to where it's supposed to be.
The Hubble Space Telescope will soon need to be either "re-orbited" (pushed into a higher orbit) or "de-orbited" (pushed into a controlled reentry) because of this. The alternative is to do nothing, in which case it will eventually re-enter on its own, but that's dangerous since it's much harder to predict where it will come down in that case and pieces might very well hit a populated area. With small satellites this is less of a problem, but the Hubble is fairly large and it's likely that some parts of it may survive re-entry and impact the ground instead of burning up entirely in the atmosphere as a meteor. In the past we've used the Space Shuttles to do this, and the Hubble was in fact designed to be returned to Earth aboard a shuttle eventually, but with the retirement of the shuttle fleet this is no longer an option. It will probably be deorbited sometime around 2025, unless replacements for the shuttle are available before then to re-orbit it and it seems worthwhile to do so.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoBasically, their speed has to be within a certain range. Also, if they are too near the Earth, they will gradually lose energy, due to air resistance. Ideally, a satellite has to be at an altitude of a few hundred km.
Basically, their speed has to be within a certain range. Also, if they are too near the Earth, they will gradually lose energy, due to air resistance. Ideally, a satellite has to be at an altitude of a few hundred km.
Basically, their speed has to be within a certain range. Also, if they are too near the Earth, they will gradually lose energy, due to air resistance. Ideally, a satellite has to be at an altitude of a few hundred km.
Basically, their speed has to be within a certain range. Also, if they are too near the Earth, they will gradually lose energy, due to air resistance. Ideally, a satellite has to be at an altitude of a few hundred km.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoBasically, their speed has to be within a certain range. Also, if they are too near the Earth, they will gradually lose energy, due to air resistance. Ideally, a satellite has to be at an altitude of a few hundred km.
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Why do satellites have a period of rotation equal to the earths period of rotation?
Some satellites cover the whole earth each pass, because that is what they are used for. However, many also cover nly certan regions such as the poles or the equator or one continent or one country. Geostationary orbiters for example, stay above the same place forever (that is, until they are taken or sent down by something). Many orbit over the same places each time, covering the same regions each pass. This is true of all satellites, the difference is how large the regions are nd how many of them. Some satellites cover the whole earth each pass, because that is what they are used for.
Can an object stay in orbit around Saturn somewhere else besides the rings?
Can an object stay in orbit around Saturn somewhere else besides the rings
How long did Mir stay in orbit?
5 years.
Will gravity keep a satellite in orbit forever?
Not quite. Forever is a long time! If the satellite is high enough to make air resistance irrelevant, it can stay in orbit for a long, long time. However, orbits do tend to decay eventually; an orbiting object will lose some energy through air resistance, and - in the very long term - through gravitational waves. It is also possible that an object that comes close to Earth changes the orbit of orbiting satellites.
What keeps the planets stay in their own orbit?
Gravity - from the sun.
Why do the moons stay in orbit of Jupiter?
Gravity holds satellites in orbit.
How satellites stay in orbit?
The reason that satellites stay in orbit around Earth is because of two factors. Velocity and the gravitational pull between the satellite and the Earth.
Do all space satellites stay in the thermosphere?
No. That only applies to low Earth orbit. Geostationary satellites orbit beyond it.
What makes satellites stay in orbit?
Gravity and inertia.
How do satellites stay in there desired locations?
Technically, satellites orbit the Earth in a relatively constant motion, so they don't really "stay" anywhere. In order to remain in the correct orbital path, however, it is necessary for occasional realignment by computer- and/or human-guided rockets.
How do astronauts and satellites stay in orbit when gravity pulls it down?
the satilite in space does anyone stay on it. ie is it mand
What happens to old satellites?
Old satellites orbiting near the Earth eventually fall back into the atmosphere and burn. Satellites orbiting farther away stay in orbit indefinitely.
How do satellites stay up in space?
Satellites stay up in space due to how fast they are traveling. If an object is in motion around a planet at the correct speed it will orbit it without crashing towards the planet.
How do satellites revolve around the earth?
With great velocity; which counteracts the gravitational attraction, so they stay in orbit.
Why are satellites high up above the earth?
Because satellites can't stay in orbit if they're moving through air, so they have to be high enough where there's no air.
What is the inclination of a satellite to the earths equator?
There is no set inclination of a satellites orbit to the earth's equator. Once in space, the spin of the earth or where it's poles happen to be become irrelevant to the satellite. Many satellites like spy and weather satellites orbit over the two poles (north and south) while communication satellites are placed in orbit directly above the equator at a height that is synchronised with the earth's orbit. This way they stay permanently above the same place on the equator and do not APPEAR to move at all.
Why do communication and weather satellites always appear at the same place in the sky?
That is because those satellites are in geostationary orbit, which ensures that they stay always above the same spot on the earth's surface. This is possible only if the satellite is placed in orbit at about 22,000 miles above sea level.
