--%>

Problem on spacecraft

Assuming that ground stations are equally distributed on the Earth, how many ground stations are required to maintain constant contact with a spacecraft at 750 km altitude, and 72 degrees inclination?

E

Expert

Verified

Given:

θ (theta) = 72°, Perpendicular distance of spacecraft=750 km.

We know that, 1° = π/180 radian, Radius of earth=6400 km. 
So, 72°= (72*π)/180 radian,
           = 2*π/5
Since,
θ = Arc/Radius,

Therefore, Arc = θ*Radius,
                      =2*π*750/5,
                      = 300π

Circumference of earth = 2*π*Radius
                                  = 2*π*6400

No. of space station = Circumference of earth/2*Arc
                             = (2*π*6400)/(2*300*π)  
                             = 21 space station (approx.)

   Related Questions in Physics

  • Q : Describe Wiedemann-Franz law

    Wiedemann-Franz law: It is the ratio of the thermal conductivity of any pure metal (substance) to its electrical conductivity is just about constant for any specified temperature. This law holds pretty well apart from at low temperatures.

  • Q : Anthropic principle What is  Anthropic

    What is Anthropic principle? Explain Weak anthropic principle and Strong anthropic principle?

    Q : Why the length of a standard meter

    Describe the reason in short why the length of a standard meter re-defined in the year of 1983?

  • Q : What do you mean by communication What

    What do you mean by communication? Illustrate in brief.

  • Q : Define Systeme Internationale d'Unites

    Systeme Internationale d'Unites (SI): The rationalized and coherent system of units derived from the m.k.s. system (that itself is derived from metric system) in common utilization in physics nowadays.

  • Q : Define Atwood's machine Atwood's

    Atwood's machine: The weight-and-pulley system devised to compute the acceleration due to gravity at Earth's surface by computing the total acceleration of a set of weights of identified mass about a frictionless pulley.

  • Q : Define Singularity Singularity : The

    Singularity: The center of a black hole, where the curvature of space-time is maximal. At singularity, the gravitational tides deviate; no solid object can yet theoretically survive beating the singularity. Though singularities usually predict inconsi

  • Q : Law of Lamberts Cosine State the law of

    State the law of Lamberts Cosine? Describe briefly?

  • Q : Define Determinism principle

    Determinism principle: The principle that when one knows the state to an unlimited accuracy of a system at one point in time, one would be capable to predict the state of that system with unlimited accuracy at any other time, past or the future. For i

  • Q : Explain avogadro's hypothesis

    Avogadro's hypothesis (Count A. Avogadro; 1811): Equivalent volumes of all gases at similar temperature and pressure contain equivalent numbers of molecules. This is, in fact, true only for the ideal gases.  <