Seeing Earth With All Our Eyes Steven Dutch University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Climbing Newton’s Mountain
Important Orbits Low vs. High Inclination Almost all are Prograde Polar Orbits for global coverage Circular Orbits strongly preferred Constant altitude Constant speed Sun-Synchronous Geosynchronous
About Orbits You do not need to expend fuel to stay in orbit Satellites need attitude control fuel to correct for atmospheric drag, lunar and solar gravity, etc. May want thrusters to help maintain orbits Spin stabilization helps Once below 200 km, atmospheric braking leads to re-entry
The V-2
V-2: Air Force Museum
V-2 shrapnel
V-2 Components
Sputnik I October 4, 1957 S- (with) + put’ (path) + -nik (one who) = Sputnik Literally, one who follows the same path
From Sapwood to Sputnik An existing rocket, the SS-6, was used. The warhead section was removed A cluster of four more SS-6 engines was bolted around a central engine Very Dependable
Early Rockets, Kennedy Space Center
Early Rockets, Huntsville AL
Gemini, 1965
Sensor Technology Passive (senses only ambient signals) Active (emits signals) Imaging Non-Imaging Scanning (mechanical or electronic) Non-scanning
Landsat Sensors
Tornado Track and Bad Pixels
The Single Most Valuable Product of the Space Program
Crescent Earth
Himalayas from Space Shuttle
Volcano, Alaska
Fringing Reefs
Icebergs, Antarctica
A Noble Myth “In my life, I've seen the images from space of a blue-white-green world — there are no political lines drawn on this planet. Luis J. Rodriguez “The border between the United States and Mexico is an imaginary line. It cannot be seen from space” The Border Zone:A History of Trade between the United States and Mexico, Julia Albright; Age of Irony, Winter 2004
“You Can’t See Borders From Space”
Mexican Border
Mexican Border
Menominee County, WI
U.S.-Canadian Border
Landsat View of Green Bay
Landsat View of Green Bay
Landsat view of Washington D.C.
Radar Image of New York City
Spy Satellite Views of Soviet Aircraft Carrier
Spy Satellite View of Soviet Airfield
Sudan Chemical Plant
Afghan Terrorist Camp
World Trade Center, September 11, 2001
Pope John Paul II Funeral
Pope John Paul II Funeral
Barack Obama’s Inauguration
Barack Obama’s Inauguration
And Now For Something Completely Different….
Gulf Stream in Infrared
Ultraviolet View of Earth
The Ocean Floor From Space
Earth and Moon Together
Really Remote Sensing
An Eclipse of the Sun – By Earth