--%>

Problem on spacecraft

Assuming that ground stations are equally distributed on the Earth, how many ground stations are required to maintain constant contact with a spacecraft at 750 km altitude, and 72 degrees inclination?

E

Expert

Verified

Given:

θ (theta) = 72°, Perpendicular distance of spacecraft=750 km.

We know that, 1° = π/180 radian, Radius of earth=6400 km. 
So, 72°= (72*π)/180 radian,
           = 2*π/5
Since,
θ = Arc/Radius,

Therefore, Arc = θ*Radius,
                      =2*π*750/5,
                      = 300π

Circumference of earth = 2*π*Radius
                                  = 2*π*6400

No. of space station = Circumference of earth/2*Arc
                             = (2*π*6400)/(2*300*π)  
                             = 21 space station (approx.)

   Related Questions in Physics

  • Q : Define Watt or SI unit of power Watt: W

    Watt: W (after J. Watt, 1736-1819): The derived SI unit of power, stated as a power of 1 J acting over the period of 1 s; it therefore has the units of J/s.

  • Q : Define Landauers principle Landauer's

    Landauer's principle: The principle which defines that it doesn't explicitly take energy to calculate data, however instead it takes energy to remove any data, as erasure is a vital step in computation.

  • Q : Define Universal constant of gravitation

    Universal constant of gravitation: G The constant of proportionality in the Newton’s law of universal gravitation and that plays a comparable role in Sir Einstein's general relativity. This is equivalent to the 6.672 x 10-1

  • Q : Define Gauss law Gauss' law (K.F.

    Gauss' law (K.F. Gauss): The electric flux via a closed surface is proportional to the arithmetical sum of electric charges contained in that closed surface; in its differential form, div E = rho,

  • Q : Define Charles law Charles' law (J.A.C.

    Charles' law (J.A.C. Charles; c. 1787): The volume of an ideal gas at constant (steady) pressure is proportional to the thermodynamic temperature of that gas.

  • Q : Define Le Chateliers principle Le

    Le Chatelier's principle (H. Le Chatelier; 1888): When a system is in equilibrium, then any modification imposed on the system tends to shift the equilibrium state to decrease the consequence of that applied change.

  • Q : Define Planck equation Planck equation:

    Planck equation: The quantum mechanical equation associating to the energy of a photon E to its frequency nu: E = h nu.

  • Q : Explain Daltons law of partial pressures

    Dalton's law of partial pressures (J. Dalton): The net pressure of a mixture of ideal gases is equivalent to the sum of the partial pressures of its components; which is the sum of the pressures which each component would exert when it were present al

  • Q : Define Rayleigh criterion or resolving

    Rayleigh criterion: resolving power: The criterion for determining how delicately a set of optics might be able to differentiate. This  starts with the supposition that central ring of one image must fall on the first dark ring of the other; for

  • Q : Atomic model which the Erwin

    Briefly state the atomic model which the Erwin Schrodinger creates?