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RE: What is an orbit? Part 2: Common types of orbits

in #steemstem6 years ago

I think you covered those types of orbits very well. The point about no satellites being in a zero inclination orbit because of energy requirements reminded me of one of the bad physics moments in the film "Gravity" (there were a few!) when Sandra Bullock's character had to intercept the Chinese Space Station that was in a much higher inclination orbit. Even if the were able to pick a moment the orbits near crossed the relative velocity would have been several km/s. I'd hate to reach out an try grab onto something moving that fast!

Btw one other special case for the Sun-Synchronous Orbit worth mentioning are the L1 and L2 points where the sun and earth gravity is balanced.