Orbiting space station is observed to remain always vertically above

In summary: Therefore, the observer must be on the equator of the Earth in order for the orbit to remain stationary above them.
  • #1
Ed Quanta
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Why is it that if an orbiting space station is observed to remain always vertically above the same point on Earth then the observer must be on the equator of Earth?
 
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  • #2
Ed Quanta said:
Why is it that if an orbiting space station is observed to remain always vertically above the same point on Earth then the observer must be on the equator of Earth?

Why do you think?
 
  • #3
Strictly speaking the statement isn't true. The observer doesn't need to be on the equator, but the point above which the geosynchronous space station remains stationary must be on the equator. (I am having trouble telling if I wrote that correctly)
 
  • #4
Here's a hint:
http://smithplanet.com/stuff/orbiter/dockingimages/mapMFD.jpg" [Broken] is a (randomly Googled) world map with some orbits superimposed on it. Why do the orbits seem to follow nice sine waves instead of straight lines? What properties of the two orbits illustrated would cause the two sine waves to have different amplitudes (heights)?
 
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  • #5
The thesis is wrong. The orbit of the space station will always around the core of the Earth but not neccesarily around the equator. You will see the space station always above you if it has the same angular velocity as the Earth. For example telecommunication satellites work like this. They are put into orbit by high powered rockets so that they have angular velocity the same as that of the Earth.
 
  • #6
cigster said:
The thesis is wrong. The orbit of the space station will always around the core of the Earth but not neccesarily around the equator. You will see the space station always above you if it has the same angular velocity as the Earth. For example telecommunication satellites work like this. They are put into orbit by high powered rockets so that they have angular velocity the same as that of the Earth.
I am not sure what this person is talking about. There's some misleading info here.
1] What thesis?
2] A satelllite will NOT always be above you if it isn't in an equatorial orbit.
 
  • #7
cigster said:
The thesis is wrong. The orbit of the space station will always around the core of the Earth but not neccesarily around the equator.
In order for the space station to remain vertically above the same point on the Earth (this is a given condition), the space station must be in an equatorial geosynchronous orbit (i.e., a geostationary orbit). There are no other orbits that satisfy this given condition.
 

1. What does it mean for a space station to be "vertically above"?

When a space station is said to be "vertically above", it means that it is directly above the observer's location on the Earth's surface, appearing to be at the zenith or directly overhead.

2. Why does the space station appear to remain vertically above?

The space station appears to remain vertically above due to its orbital motion around the Earth. As the Earth rotates on its axis, the space station's orbit allows it to maintain its position relative to the observer's location, giving the illusion of remaining vertically above.

3. Is the space station actually stationary?

No, the space station is not actually stationary. It is constantly orbiting around the Earth at a high speed. However, its orbital velocity matches the Earth's rotational velocity, making it appear to remain stationary relative to the observer's location.

4. How does the space station maintain its position above a specific location on Earth?

The space station maintains its position above a specific location on Earth through a combination of its orbital velocity and thrusters. The thrusters are used to make small adjustments to the station's orbit, keeping it in a geostationary position above the Earth.

5. What are the benefits of having a space station remain vertically above a specific location on Earth?

Having a space station remain vertically above a specific location on Earth allows for continuous communication and observation of that location. This is useful for scientific research, communications, and monitoring of weather patterns or natural disasters.

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