Orbital velocity of a craft at 4km above the Moon's surface

In summary, the orbital velocity of a craft at 4km above the moon's surface can be calculated using the formula ##\sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}}## where ##G## is the gravitational constant, ##M## is the moon's mass, and ##r## is the distance from the moon's center. The mass of the craft does not affect the calculation. It is recommended to use the SI units and values from Wikipedia for a more accurate result, keeping in mind the variations due to lunar mascons.
  • #1
Fred Bobo
15
0
What would be the orbital velocity of craft at 4km above moon surface?
Assume a mass of 1,000,000 lb, US.
 

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  • #2
For a circular orbit, it's ##\sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}}## where ##G## is the gravitational constant, ##M## is the mass of the body being orbited (here: Moon), and ##r## is the distance from the centre of the body. The mass of the craft doesn't matter.
Find the values on Wikipedia and plug them in. Or, you can make it even easier, and take the escape velocity listed on Wikipedia's page about the Moon, and divide it by ##\sqrt{2}##. The result will be only marginally off.
 
  • #3
Thank you.
 
  • #5
You want the one in SI units. Use ##6.674*10^{-11}##. You don't really need more significant numbers as it won't make much of a difference. Then use mass M in kilograms and distance r in metres - again, don't bother with too many significant numbers, unless you really feel like it matters to you if the result is very precise.
 
  • #6
Thank you. All good now.
 
  • #7
Care: Due to the lunar mascons, low orbits are seriously non-circular, unto 'lumpy'...
 

1. What is the formula for calculating orbital velocity?

The formula for calculating orbital velocity is V = √(GM/R), where V is the orbital velocity, G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the central body, and R is the distance between the craft and the central body.

2. How is orbital velocity affected by altitude?

Orbital velocity is inversely proportional to the distance between the craft and the central body. This means that as the altitude increases, the orbital velocity decreases. Therefore, a craft at 4km above the Moon's surface would have a lower orbital velocity than a craft at a lower altitude.

3. What is the orbital velocity of a craft at 4km above the Moon's surface?

The orbital velocity of a craft at 4km above the Moon's surface can be calculated using the formula mentioned in the first question. However, it also depends on the mass of the Moon and the specific altitude of the craft. On average, the orbital velocity at this altitude is around 1.6 km/s.

4. How does the orbital velocity of a craft at 4km above the Moon's surface compare to Earth's orbital velocity?

The orbital velocity of a craft at 4km above the Moon's surface is significantly lower than Earth's orbital velocity. This is because the Moon has a much lower mass and gravitational pull compared to Earth, resulting in a lower required orbital velocity for a craft to maintain its orbit.

5. Can the orbital velocity of a craft at 4km above the Moon's surface be changed?

Yes, the orbital velocity of a craft at any altitude can be changed by adjusting its speed or altitude. However, changing the orbital velocity requires a significant amount of energy and precise calculations to ensure the craft maintains its orbit without crashing into the central body or drifting off into space.

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