- #1
KillerZ
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Homework Statement
NASA would like to place a satellite in orbit around the moon such that the satellite always remains in the same position over the lunar surface. What is the satellite's altitude?
Homework Equations
[tex]T^{2} = \left(\frac{4\pi^{2}}{GM}\right)r^{3}[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
I think I have this right:
[tex]r_{geo} = R_{e} + h_{geo} = \left[\left(\frac{GM}{4\pi^{2}}\right)T^{2}\right]^{1/3}[/tex]
[tex]r_{geo} = R_{e} + h_{geo} = \left[\left(\frac{(6.67x10^{-11})(5.98x10^{24})}{4\pi^{2}}\right)(2358720)^{2}\right]^{1/3}[/tex]
[tex]= 383065776.5m[/tex]
[tex]h_{geo} = r_{geo} - R_{e} = 383065776.5m - 6.67x10^{6}m[/tex]
[tex]= 376695776.5m[/tex] from earth.
[tex]=>3.84x10^{8}m - 376695776.5m[/tex]
[tex]= 7304223.492m[/tex]
[tex]= 7.30x10^{6}m[/tex] from moon
I calculated it from the Earth then subtracted that from the distance between the Earth and the moon to get the distance from moon. I used the Earth because the moon is in synchronous orbit with the Earth and for T I used the moons period around the Earth to keep the satellite with it.