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Are the locations of every satellite publicly available?
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:23 am
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:23 am
Do organizations that launch satellites have access to the locations of every satellite in orbit? How do they determine the orbital path of new satellites they send up so that it does not crash into others in orbit?
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:25 am to beantown
Not today, ISIS.
Nice try.
Nice try.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:27 am to Ugly Casanova
Curses! Foiled at every corner.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:27 am to beantown
The atmosphere is pretty big there's a lot of room up there they probably don't even check....
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:29 am to beantown
quote:
How do they determine the orbital path of new satellites they send up so that it does not crash into others in orbit?
OP is a trial lawyer looking for new markets. No new HQ with helipad for you today OP
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:30 am to RJL2
That was my first thought, but I think if I were sending expensive satellites into space, I'd check at least once.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:32 am to beantown
Think of it as throwing a handful of marbles out of a plane over Los Angeles and trying to hit the same person twice
This post was edited on 2/14/17 at 11:33 am
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:35 am to beantown
Yes, they are all located in space.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:48 am to beantown
Lots of info available. Short answer is yes, and there are computer programs that can predict the path of a satellite. Long answer, Google AMSAT.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 12:24 pm to Btrtigerfan
yes, I think most satellites have to get approval and designated orbits. There is the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA.org) which I think takes care of this or some other international committee.
Registered search online index for Objects launched into Outer space
Registered search online index for Objects launched into Outer space
This post was edited on 2/14/17 at 12:30 pm
Posted on 2/14/17 at 12:30 pm to beantown
There are organizations that have the locations of every private and non-classified satellite in orbit. Ground radar can pick up all objects (unless they're stealthed somehow, of course) in low earth orbit down to a couple of centimeters or even smaller. So, even the classified military satellites will likely show up easily from a ground based survey and you'll know SOMETHING is there, even though it'll just be a large unidentified object. Once you have pinpointed an object's position, speed, and direction of travel, you'll have pinpointed its entire orbit and can predict whether there will be a problem with close approaches fairly far into the future. Of course, this all assumes that the things you measure in orbit never change their orbit after you measure them. So, once the launch firm submits its launch profile, someone will let them know if there is any potential problem
Realistically, even if they didn't check, space is unfathomably big. To a first approximation, the entire universe is nothing but space. Launching a satellite and hitting another object by accident is like firing two bullets and getting them to hit in midair on the first try except the bullets are moving 17,000 mph. It is possible, but it's REALLY unlikely.
NB4 one of you jackasses posts a picture like this one.
Realistically, even if they didn't check, space is unfathomably big. To a first approximation, the entire universe is nothing but space. Launching a satellite and hitting another object by accident is like firing two bullets and getting them to hit in midair on the first try except the bullets are moving 17,000 mph. It is possible, but it's REALLY unlikely.
NB4 one of you jackasses posts a picture like this one.
This post was edited on 2/14/17 at 12:34 pm
Posted on 2/14/17 at 12:33 pm to beantown
Yes, the satellite owners/operators as well as the launch providers are aware of the existing satellites in orbit. Satellites can be placed in multiple different orbital slots (for geo-synchronous satellites) and orbital paths (polar, LEO, etc).
The rocket science of the launch is one issue, but operating the satellites through their life-cycle (station keeping, maneuvers, etc.) is where the real day to day work comes in.
The rocket science of the launch is one issue, but operating the satellites through their life-cycle (station keeping, maneuvers, etc.) is where the real day to day work comes in.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 12:36 pm to beantown
yeah theres actually an app called Sky Guide that has all of them. It was 2 or 3 bucks but its pretty badass if youre into space and learning about planets, stars, galaxies etc. It uses the camera on your phone and you just point it at the sky and it shows what stars are there and you can click on them to learn about what it is/how far away it is etc. But it has all the satellites in the search function.
10/10 would buy again
10/10 would buy again
Posted on 2/14/17 at 1:03 pm to quietplease
Thanks for the good answers everyone.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 1:13 pm to beantown
I work in an industry that uses satellites 24/7, so I get to deal with certain satellites, satellite operators, ground segment operators and some launch providers regularly.
A few years ago, one of the media satellites lost earth lock governing its controls. Several attempts to regain control failed. It took a "walk" across the geo-synchronous orbit over the US and about a dozen other broadcast satellites had to be maneuvered out of its way as it passed by over a few month period.
The satellite operators handled it flawlessly with no service interruptions. Each satellite had to burn some fuel to get out of the way of the "zombie sat" which reduced each of their operational life to some degree.
A few years ago, one of the media satellites lost earth lock governing its controls. Several attempts to regain control failed. It took a "walk" across the geo-synchronous orbit over the US and about a dozen other broadcast satellites had to be maneuvered out of its way as it passed by over a few month period.
The satellite operators handled it flawlessly with no service interruptions. Each satellite had to burn some fuel to get out of the way of the "zombie sat" which reduced each of their operational life to some degree.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 1:53 pm to Atttaboy
how much fuel is "some fuel"
Posted on 2/14/17 at 2:57 pm to beantown
My kids have apps on their iPads that show where the satellites are. Top secret ones excluded of course.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 3:18 pm to Atttaboy
Wow thanks for sharing. Had no idea these satellites actually had maneuvering. Thought it was a fixed path once it got up there, hence the question.
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