Orbital Mechanics Ted Spitzmiller

Space… the final Frontier! How far out from our planet does the atmosphere extend ? How far out from our planet is the ISS ?

Getting Into Orbit Orbital Velocity 17,500 mph

Going to the Moon Escape Velocity 24,500 MPH

How Far is the Moon? 240,000 miles (average) If the Earth were the size of a basketball How big would the Moon be? How far should we place the Moon? Earth 8,000 in diameter (1 foot basketball) Divide 8,000 into 240,000

Going to Mars 93 million miles 142 million miles Earth Orbit Mars Orbit 93 million miles Sun Earth’s Rotation 142 million miles Earth Relative position at time of Viking launch Mars

Going to Mars Path of Viking spacecraft Earth Orbit Mars Orbit Sun Earth’s Rotation Earth Relative position at time of Viking launch Mars

Going to Mars Path of Viking spacecraft Earth Orbit Mars Orbit Sun Relative position at time of Viking Arrival at Mars Earth’s Rotation Earth Earth Mars

Going to Mars Path of Viking spacecraft Earth Orbit Mars Orbit Sun Earth’s Rotation Earth Orbit Mars Orbit Mars Relative position at time of Viking launch Relative position at time of Viking Arrival at Mars Path of Viking spacecraft

Review Speed necessary to achieve Earth Orbit? Minimum height of a “stable” Earth Orbit? Approximate extent of the Earth’s atmosphere? Distance to the Moon? Relative size of the Earth to the Moon? Distance between Earth’s orbit and Mars’ orbit? Earth’s gravitational Escape velocity?