[meteorite-list] Why did they not use the leftover propellanttoheighten the orbit and push the rogue satellite into space?

From: Matson, Robert D. <ROBERT.D.MATSON_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:12:56 -0700
Message-ID: <9180F6B27399C541B10663E21C8BDE9202BF422A_at_0461-its-exmb09.us.saic.com>

Hi Dennis/Doug,

You're both right, actually. In the counter-intuitive world of orbital
mechanics, while an orbital burn in a direction opposite to the velocity
vector decreases the orbital velocity at that point in the orbit, it
actually increases the average orbital velocity over the entire orbit
since the post-burn semi-major axis will be smaller. (The lower the
semi-major axis, the faster the orbital period *and* the faster the
average orbital velocity). So putting on the brakes, so to speak,
actually speeds you up. --Rob

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Dennis
Cox
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 1:56 PM
To: Meteorite List; MexicoDoug
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Why did they not use the leftover
propellanttoheighten the orbit and push the rogue satellite into space?

You're second guessing your self Doug.

You said:

>oops:
>
> "Slow it down 600 mph (to 16,400 mph) and burn up vs. speed it up 600
> mph (to 17,600 mph) and get to an orbit 300 miles higher in altitude "
>
> should read:
>
> "Speed it up 600 mph (to 17,600 mph) and burn up vs. slow it down 600
> mph (to 16,400 mph) and get to an orbit 300 miles higher in altitude "
>
> ****


No, you got it right the first time.

You have to Decelerate the satellite to get it to fall out of orbit and
burn
up. And accelerate it to get it to climb up into a higher orbit.
Received on Tue 13 Sep 2011 05:12:56 PM PDT