# All Questions

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### How to calculate the planets and moons beyond Newtons's gravitational force?

The question Calculating the planets and moons based on Newtons's gravitational force was pretty much answered with two items: Use a reasonable ODE solver; at least RK4 (the classic Runge-Kutta ...
14k views

### Effect of atmospheric drag on rocket launches and benefits of high altitude launch sites

What is the approximate influence of atmospheric drag on the cost of rocket launches? Is it beneficial to have launch sites located at higher altitudes? Cape Canaveral is at sea level, but I've ...
3k views

### How to calculate data rate of Voyager 1?

I've read the following passage in the answer to the Quora question How can Voyager send a signal strong enough for us to receive, in spite of its enormous distance from us? And how can it have the ...
12k views

### How much bigger could Earth be, before rockets wouldn't work?

hint: Apparently the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation does not actually say that you can launch a conventional rocket into orbit around an arbitrarily large and massive body. I'm looking for a number ...
1k views

### Is this what station keeping maneuvers look like, or just glitches in data? (SOHO via Horizons)

I've been enjoying the JPL Horizons web interface and after I discovered the incredibly extensive database associated with SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, also see sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov) ...
2k views

### What would a “Kármán plane” look like, a bird, or a plane?

If I understand correctly (which I might not), the Kármán line is roughly the altitude where a "Kármán plane's" upward lift force at the orbital velocity for that altitude would be equal in magnitude ...
4k views

### How to best think of the State Transition Matrix, and how to use it to find periodic Halo orbits?

I'll state my mathematical question about the state propagation and state transition matrices first, then show you a simple problem for which I would like to use these concepts to generate a densely ...
5k views

### Why is a near rectilinear halo orbit proposed for LOP-G (formerly known as Deep Space Gateway?)

Why is a near rectilinear halo orbit a good place for a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (formerly known as Deep Space Gateway)? Are there specific logistical and orbital-mechanical advantages over ...
756 views

### How do SDP4's “Deep space” corrections to SGP4 account for the Sun's and Moon's gravity?

The Simplified Perturbations model SGP4 is used to calculate Earth satellite state vectors (position and velocity) using standard ephemeris data encoded as TLEs (Two Line Elements). According to ...
8k views

### Starman/Roadster in a=1.795 AU orbit, now what's the method to this madness?

The question SpaceX's 4,425 satellite constellation - what's the method to the madness? received an excellent answer explaining the rationality behind the madness plan. Elon Musk's tweet (spotted ...
15k views

### What is a near rectilinear halo orbit?

A proposed option for the lunar orbit of a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (formerly known as Deep Space Gateway) is a near rectilinear halo orbit, or NRHO. This excellent answer discusses the ...
12k views

### How could a 90 m/s delta-v be enough to commit the space shuttle to landing?

Wikipedia claims (although with no citation) that in order to make the space shuttle land, an initial powered delta-v of 322 km/h was applied in orbit, retrograde to the shuttle's orbit. 322 km/h is ...
3k views

### What technological hurdles prevent the development of a space gun?

Ever since Jules Verne wrote "From the Earth to the Moon" space guns have long been proposed as a method of launching objects into space. And for non-human, non-fragile payloads they make sense as the ...
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### How did the tangential thrusters for the 2014 LDSD test spin-up then spin-down so nicely?

I just watched the NASA JPL video of the 2014 test of the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD). Tangential thrusters are used to spin up the craft for stability before the main rocket ignites. ...
3k views

### General guidelines for modeling a low thrust ion spiral?

I've been told that for low thrust ion spirals, delta V would be the difference between speeds of departure and destination orbits. For example the delta V between a 7.7 km/s LEO and a 3.1 km/s GEO ...
43k views

### How to programmatically calculate orbital elements using position/velocity vectors?

I would like to build some orbital mechanical software from scratch. I feel that this would be a great way to learn the steps required to calculate different Kepler orbital elements of an object, plot ...
38k views

### Could it be possible to launch a rocket from a balloon?

There are several (commercial) organisations looking into alternative means to launch space-bound rockets. One commonly proposed method is to use a large airplane as the launch platform. This method ...
3k views

### SpaceX's 4,425 satellite constellation - what's the method to the madness?

The BBC article SpaceX aims to launch internet from space discusses the SpaceX proposal for a dense array of over 4,000 LEO satellites for global internet coverage, and links to SpaceX non-...
58k views

### What is the current cost-per-pound to send something into LEO?

As a student of economics and finance I would love to learn more about the cost structures of sending a payload into orbit. More specifically - What is the cost-per-pound to send something into LEO ...
4k views

### Does the NK-33 engine require subcooled kerosene so cold that it turns to wax?

It was mentioned in this answer and in several other places on the internet that the kerosene fuel used by NK-33 engines needed to be subcooled enough so that it reached the same density as the LOX, ...
35k views

### How much power would a spacecraft's magnetic shield require?

I've read over the decades that a magnetic shield might protect a spacecraft from cosmic radiation. Its a fascinating idea that might only be theory or science fiction at the moment. In regards to ...
44k views

### What is the purpose of the jets of water often under rocket engines during launch?

I have watched several STS launches, and noticed that there were always huge jets of water that would begin right before the rocket engines lit. They were right under the rocket, mounted to the pad. ...
9k views

### How is the altitude of a satellite defined, given that the Earth is not spherical?

The altitude of a satellite is the distance between the Earth's surface and the satellite, but the Earth itself is not spherical. At the equator the Earth's radius is 21 km more than at the poles, and ...
507 views

### How can I verify my reconstructed gravity field of Ceres from spherical harmonics?

Based on @DavidHammen's very helpful answer I've made progress reconstructing the gravity field of Ceres from the Dawn radiometric data. The question there contains further information, but suffice it ...
5k views

### What artificial satellite has the farthest orbit around the Earth?

What is the furthest Earth orbiting satellite? What is its speed and purpose?
897 views

### How can the two MarCO cubesats remain reliably close to InSight during their six month trip to Mars?

According to the NASA JPL web page Mars Cube One (MarCO) Mission Overview and the YouTube video MarCO: First Interplanetary CubeSat Mission linked there, after the Centaur upper stage deploys InSight, ...
2k views

### How much can the Mars rover Curiosity do autonomously, after four years of operation?

I was under the impression (when asking this question) that over the past four years that experience by ground operators and programmers had lead to a configuration where the Mars rover Curiosity ...
3k views

### How does one dogleg from Florida to a sun-synchronous orbit?

From NASA Spaceflight's article SpaceX Falcon 9 launches first NRO mission with NROL-76: The NROL-76 launch was not to be targeting a sun-synchronous orbit, typically used by the NRO’s optical ...
15k views

### Will the ISS need more docking ports?

Currently the ISS has two basic segments, the Russian and US sides. The Russian side has 4 docking ports. Usually occupied by 2 Soyuz, 1 or 2 Progress freighters or an ESA ATV vehicle. You can see ...
1k views

### Are some Halo Orbits actually Stable?

UPDATE: I found another reference! While I always enjoy a good video starring Jimmy and Linda Carter, this one has Dennis Wingo describing ISEE-3's original Halo orbit. He describes Sun-Earth $L_1$ as ...
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### What's the largest aperture telescope sent beyond the Earth-Moon system?

The question and answer about telescopes sent to different planets got me wondering. There are so many solar system bodies that have been photographed by deep space spacecraft, planets, dwarf planet(s?...
837 views

### Why is FAI considering lowering the Karman Line to 80km?

I ran across this FAI statement The Karman line is the 100km altitude used by FAI and many other organisations to mark the “boundary” of space . In the last few years there have been many scientific ...
4k views

### Puzzler - which spacecraft(s) incorporated real wood structural elements?

Not a trick question, but a real puzzler - which spacecraft or spacecrafts incorporated real wood structural elements?
590 views

### What sort of orbital elements are used to describe halo orbits?

For standard orbits we can use Keplerian elements, TLE, or other similar. These don't make much sense for Halo orbits, which are not around a central body, but around a Lagrangian point, and follow an ...
1k views

### Did the NASA PhoneSat actually try to use the GPS from the phone itself?

I was reading this article about NASA's PhoneSat Flight Demonstrations and came across this sentence. "To achieve this, NASA's PhoneSat design makes extensive use of commercial-off-the-shelf ...
748 views

### Rotating in orbit?

Reading this question (Is the cupola, on the inside of the ISS, cold or warm to the touch?) prompted me to wonder about an object in orbit's orientation as it orbits its host object. For example, ...
19k views

### Can I borrow a lunar rover?

According to Wikipedia there are 3 LRVs sitting on the moon, in very well defined locations. Would China, or whomever gets to the moon with a person next, be able to get in and drive around in an LRV ...
12k views

### What would be the (most difficult) challenge to make a 10,000 year satellite?

Update: Bezos' recent Tweeted update on the 10,000 year clock. Also see The Verge's Construction begins on Jeff Bezos’ \$42 million 10,000-year clock The discussions associated with the question Can ...
10k views

### How can I plot a satellite's orbit in 3D from a TLE using Python and Skyfield?

I have obtained a Two Line Element (TLE) of a satellite in Earth orbit from Celestrak at https://www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/ and I would like to use it to calculate an orbit. How can I ...
22k views

### Puncturing space suit during EVA. What would happen?

What would happen, if the space suit of a spacewalking crew was punctured during the extravehicular activity (EVA)? What are the chances of this happening? Has this already happened to anyone in the ...
2k views

### How strong and “hot” is the wind on the payload after the fairing is deployed at ~110km?

In the question What makes 21st century fairings so valuable that they'd potentially be recovered and re-used? I said: 21st century fairings are much more than passive rooftop boxes to "keep the ...
862 views

### Getting state vectors from JPL Horizons ephemerides

I'm simulating the Sun-Earth-Moon system by numerical integration of equation of motion. I've confused a little bit in JPL Horizons ephemerides. Could anyone explain (if possible, on pictures), how ...
2k views

### Going from LEO to lunar using only low-thrust ion propulsion - can it be done?

@SF.'s question What are the parameters of the new Iodine electrical rocket engine developed by RSC Energia? links to the short RT article 'Ten times cheaper': Russian space company testing iodine ...
2k views

### Do antennae on the ISS have to constantly move to maintain data links?

In this question and answer pair I see that the ISS can maintain data links to earth through direct access to ground stations as well as through the TDRSS geostationary satellite network. What kind ...
949 views

### What are these very large, square panels on Inmarsat 5?

Question: What are these very large square panels on Inmarsat 5's? They seem to each have an extremely reflective mirror-like flat/smooth tiled-appearing side, and a nearly black side with a lot of ...
792 views

### Why doesn't thermal radio emission from a DSN “hot dish” completely swamp the benefits of a cold LNA?

The 70 meter DSN dishes are often used to receive the weakest signals, and so their receiver LNAs have cryogenic front-ends in an assembly that also contains a LHe refrigerator and vacuum system. If I ...
847 views

### Have there been any documented mini-moons since 2006 RH120?

The conference call with Bill Bottke (MP3 plus other documents) about "minimoons" presents an alternative to Asteroid Redirect first got me interested in orbital mechanics. The idea is that there are ...