Can Satellites Orbit Within Earth's Atmosphere and How Close Can They Get?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Mateo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Orbit
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of satellites achieving orbit within Earth's atmosphere, specifically focusing on how close they can get to the ground. Participants also touch upon the hypothetical scenario of the Death Star's energy source.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether gravitational orbit can be achieved inside the Earth's atmosphere and how close a satellite can approach the ground.
  • Another participant asks for clarification on which part of the atmosphere is being referred to and mentions the Death Star's fusion reactor as a counterpoint to solar panels.
  • A participant suggests that orbiting within the atmosphere could theoretically occur if a satellite has sufficient speed, but notes that friction would pose significant practical challenges.
  • One participant expresses interest in the possibility of orbiting between the Mesosphere and the Exosphere without the use of rockets, acknowledging friction as a problematic factor.
  • Another participant reiterates the possibility of orbiting within the atmosphere but describes it as unlikely.
  • A later reply emphasizes that aerodynamics also presents challenges for orbiting within the atmosphere.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the feasibility of satellites orbiting within the atmosphere, with some suggesting it is possible under certain conditions while others indicate significant challenges, leading to no consensus on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various factors such as friction and aerodynamics that complicate the concept of atmospheric orbit, but do not resolve the implications of these factors on the feasibility of such orbits.

Mateo
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi, was just wondering if gravitational orbit be achieved inside the Earth's atmosphere. Or how close a satellite can be to the ground?

Additionally, would the Death Star have been completely covered in solar panels?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Which part of the atmosphere are you referring to? And no, if I'm correct, the Death Star had a fusion reactor.
 
Orbit can be falling when tangential velocity can path beyond horizon when vertical is less than escape velocity. a sufficiently såeedy satellite could orbit the Earth within the atmosphere, but friction would be a huge practical problem.
 
I suppose I would like to know if something can orbit between the Mesosphere and the Exosphere without using rockets.
Didn't think of friction- that is problematic.
 
It is possible, but it's unlikely
 
Mateo said:
I suppose I would like to know if something can orbit between the Mesosphere and the Exosphere without using rockets.
Didn't think of friction- that is problematic.
Aerodynamics is too.
 

Similar threads

High School How Do Missiles Reenter Earth's Atmosphere?
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
6K
Graduate Can Sci-Fi Spacecraft Achieve Stable Orbit with Plasma Technology?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School Nodal Precession: Satellites Orbiting Earth Explained
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
Graduate Optimal Size of Rocket Engine Nozzle for Vacuum Performance
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
4K
High School Can a thunderstorm affect a satellite in low earth orbit?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad How Does the Coriolis Effect Influence Great Circle Motion on Earth?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Is my fictional Solar System stable and realistic?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
6K
High School Asteroid 2024 RW1 - entered Earth's atmosphere over Luzon, Philippines
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
High School Where Are the To-Scale Diagrams of Alpha Centauri's Orbits?
  • · Replies 47 ·
2
Replies
47
Views
7K
Solar panel with circuit inside a PC box -Not working
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K