Exploring Space

Glencoe Earth Science - Virtual Lab

Exploring Space: How does an artificial satellite stay in orbit?

Pre Activity Questions:

1. What is a satellite?

2. Summarize the second paragraph explaining how to place an artificial satellite into orbit.

3. What is an orbital altitude?

4. How do you determine the launch vehicle’s payload?

5. Why can a shuttle only stay in orbit for a few weeks?
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Post Activity Questions

1. Use your data to describe the relationship between the satellite’s speed and orbiting altitude. How does the speed change with altitude of orbit?

2. Use your data to describe the relationship between the satellite’s period and altitude. How does the period change with altitude?

3. What might happen to a satellite in Low Earth Orbit? Why?

4. If you wanted to launch a satellite to an orbit where it could see all parts of the globe within each 24-hour period, what would its orbit be? Why?