Orbital Mechanics

Why do astronauts need to perform a gravity turn?

• So they can overcome the force of gravity

• So they can avoid the Earth's electromagnetic field

• So they can fly parallel to the ground

• So they can make the launch last longer

Once the astronauts have achieved orbit...

• They continue to fall toward the Earth but miss the ground due to their horizontal speed
• They continue to fall toward the Earth, but stay in space by constantly firing their rockets
• They have successfully overcome gravity and no longer fall toward the Earth

Which of the following is not a type of orbit?

• Low-Earth
• Geosynchronous
• Geodesic
• Geostationary

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

When you are in a circular orbit...

• You are always at the same altitude above the planet

• You speed up or slow down depending on your altitude

• You are moving so fast you eventually fly off into space

• You are moving too slowly and eventually crash into the object you are orbiting around

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

When you are in a parabolic orbit...

• You are always at the same altitude above the planet

• You speed up or slow down depending on your altitude

• You are moving so fast you eventually fly off into space

• You are moving too slowly and eventually crash into the object you are orbiting around

When you are in an elliptical orbit...

• You are always at the same altitude above the planet

• You speed up or slow down depending on your altitude

• You are moving so fast you eventually fly off into space

• You are moving too slowly and eventually crash into the object you are orbiting around

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Which of the following is not true if you are in a geostationary orbit...

• You are always at the same altitude above Earth

• You orbit at exactly the same rate as the Earth

• You are always above the same point on Earth's surface

• You orbit very low over the Earth's surface

In an elliptical orbit, the point farthest away from the object you are orbiting is called the...

• Apoapsis

• Pariapsis

• Directrix

• Hyperbola

While in orbit around a planet, your speed largely depends on...

• The time of year

• The force of gravity

• The direction you are facing

• The inclination of your orbit

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

In an elliptical orbit, you will be travelling the fastest at the...

• Midpoint

• Vertex

• Apoapsis

• Periapsis