Astronaut's Experience Orbiting Earth at 11K mph

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In summary, when an astronaut is orbiting the Earth, he does not feel like he is traveling at a high rate of speed due to being in a gravitational orbit and moving relative to his immediate surroundings. The Earth appears to move at a similar speed to looking down at the ground from a jet airplane. The orbit around the Earth takes approximately 97 minutes. The shuttle, astronaut, and telescope are all moving at high speeds of about 18k mph, but do not feel the sensation of speed due to being in orbit.
  • #1
kleinma
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Ok so when an astronaut is orbiting the earth, let's use a Hubble servicing mission as an example (if only we could get another of those). The shuttle, the astronaut outside the shuttle, and the telescope are all moving at high speed in orbit around the earth. I forget the number, like 11k miles per hour or something crazy right?

So if you are up there orbiting, does it FEEL like you are traveling at a high rate of speed? or since you are in a gravitational orbit around the earth, it just seems as thought he Earth is rotating fast relative to you?
 
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  • #2
It's about 18k mph, or ~7km / second or ~ 5mi / second.
No, the astronaut does not feel like he is traveling at a high rate of speed. Standing on the Earth, you are moving at about 32 km / second around the Sun, but you don't experience the sensation of speed because you are moving 0 relative to your immediate surroundings. An astronaut is also moving 0 relative to his immediate surroundings, the Hubble, and the Space Shuttle, so he does not experience a sensation of great speed either. When he looks down on the Earth, it seems to move approximately at the same speed as looking down at the ground from a jet airplane. Although they're moving much faster, they're also much higher.
 
  • #3
well the Earth is what, has a equatorial circumference around 25k miles right? so somewhere around 1 and a third hours you would have orbited the Earth right?
 
  • #4
kleinma said:
well the Earth is what, has a equatorial circumference around 25k miles right? so somewhere around 1 and a third hours you would have orbited the Earth right?
It goes around the Earth in 97 minutes.
http://science.nasa.gov/temp/HubbleLoc.html [Broken]
 
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What is it like to orbit Earth at 11K mph?

Orbiting Earth at 11K mph is a truly unique and exhilarating experience. The sheer speed at which you are traveling creates a sense of weightlessness and allows you to see the curvature of the Earth.

How long does it take for an astronaut to orbit the Earth at 11K mph?

It takes approximately 90 minutes for an astronaut to complete one orbit around the Earth at 11K mph. This means that they see a sunrise and sunset every 45 minutes!

What challenges do astronauts face while orbiting at such high speeds?

One of the main challenges that astronauts face while orbiting at high speeds is adjusting to the change in gravitational forces. The constant acceleration and deceleration can cause nausea and disorientation. Additionally, the high speeds can also create potential hazards from space debris.

What are some of the benefits of orbiting the Earth at 11K mph?

Besides the incredible views and sense of adventure, orbiting the Earth at 11K mph also allows for important scientific research and data collection. Astronauts can study the Earth's atmosphere, climate, and vegetation, as well as conduct experiments in microgravity.

How do astronauts prepare for the experience of orbiting at high speeds?

Astronauts undergo extensive training and preparation before they are able to orbit the Earth at high speeds. This includes learning about the physics of orbiting, practicing in simulators, and undergoing physical and psychological evaluations to ensure they are physically and mentally prepared for the experience.

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