Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 05/08/2021 19:17:18

Title: Which direction does all the space junk and satellites travel ?
Post by: neilep on 05/08/2021 19:17:18

Dearest Satellieologists,


As a sheepy I of course care for the environment and like to do my bit.


Someone told me there's a bunch of stuff in orbit and that most of it is rubbish ! That's very careless, I recycle when I can by putting into the appropriate receptacle. I don't blast it into orbit.


To this end, I am currently in orbit trying to clear the mess up.


(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ObhBQL40hTxWA5pcY_xsz1ce4bhryc8BVjJ5izNqVL2HaDYobv-cle3UykXcU7-mJV9rhWqzaoTgzEfChU_Nm3VTHUcrg4PfT2vQtoTGKjx9Crt-qfAbMs1ben48wxI_7EbgMweSJ28=w2400)
Bona-fide non doctored image of me currently clearing all the rubbish just moments ago !!


There's a lot of stuff up here and I may have to return to take another breath.

 How Much Useless Stuff Is Up here  ? what does it all weigh ? and What Direction is it Travelling ?  Does it all travel the same direction ? North to South, East To West ? a variety of directions ?

whajafink ?


Hugs and shmishes


mwah mwah mwah


neil
xxxxxxxx

Oh in space the orbit is just right
To send yet another satellite
But here on Earth I have to say
That all that stuff is Sata-heavy !


groan !!

Title: Re: Which direction does all the space junk and satellites travel ?
Post by: Halc on 05/08/2021 19:47:44

Quote from: neilep on 05/08/2021 19:17:18

To this end, I am currently in orbit trying to clear the mess up.

A valiant effort and we thank you.

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what does it all weigh ?

Things are weightless in orbit. It doesn't weigh a thing.
It masses around 4 million kg all put together, but it's a very low weight 4 million kg.

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and What Direction is it Travelling ?

Most of it more or less eastward, which is the orbit that requires the least energy expenditure. If it all went the same way, there'd be terribly little worry about them bumping into each other.
There are some in polar orbits that go mostly north/south. Sheep-counting and other spy work is done this way since the orbit covers all the Earth over time instead of just one stripe of it.
Some hover permanently over exactly one spot so ewe need not move your head ever to keep an eye on it. Those satellites are pretty high up.

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But here on Earth I have to stay

We have totally undoctored photo evidence contradicting your totally undoctored line.

Title: Re: Which direction does all the space junk and satellites travel ?
Post by: Eternal Student on 06/08/2021 21:53:29

Hi.

   This podcast by the NakedScientists:
https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-reflections/space-oddity
   Talks about space junk, satellites and weapons in space.   I enjoyed it.  Can sheep hear podcasts?

Best Wishes.

Title: Re: Which direction does all the space junk and satellites travel ?
Post by: neilep on 07/08/2021 15:58:15

Quote from: Eternal Student on 06/08/2021 21:53:29

Hi.

   This podcast by the NakedScientists:
https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-reflections/space-oddity (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-reflections/space-oddity)
   Talks about space junk, satellites and weapons in space.   I enjoyed it.  Can sheep hear podcasts?

Best Wishes.

I can indeed hear podcasts and I thank ewe for the link @Eternal Student