10
votes
Accepted
Would satellites going into a rendez-vous show a difference in potential leading to an arc between the structures?
According to EMI from Spacecraft Docking Systems Spacecraft Charging - Plasma Contact Potentials,
It has been
thought that, before the two objects come into close proximity
and dock, the two metallic ...
- 7,303
3
votes
Has there ever been a go-pro satellite?
The answer is yes. The NanoAvionics MP42 microsatellite (1) included a GoPro on a boom to take a selfie, as shown below (2)
(1) https://nanoavionics.com/small-satellite-buses/microsatellite-bus-mp42/
...
- 2,571
3
votes
How do satellite operators negotiate when a collision avoidance measure is necessary?
Yes and no, if one satellite has the ability to change course and the other doesn't then the one which does moves.
Likewise if neither has thrust then all the operators can do is cross their fingers
...
- 185
2
votes
How to calculate Earth to Sun distance given NASA DSCOVR j2000 coordinates
It looks like the sun_j2000_position is the Sun's position relative to Earth. So it is as simple as using the Pythagorean theorem: $ \sqrt{x^2+y^2+z^2} $ for those coordinates, which yeild about 151,...
- 304
2
votes
Longest duration of a Moon orbiter?
LRO (Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter) might be a good candidate from which we have data to know it's exact state.
But since you included "defunct spacecraft" as well there might be something in ...
- 1,605
2
votes
Longest duration of a Moon orbiter?
The comments are slightly out of date. The Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter, launched in 2009, is still going strong and is expected to last at least until 2026:
As of 2019, LRO has enough fuel to ...
- 7,630
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