Not So Lost in Space
How do engineers navigate satellites in orbit around the Earth?Copyright https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_(satellite)#/media/File:GPS-IIRM.jpg
Students learn how engineers navigate satellites in orbit around the Earth and on their way to other planets in the solar system. In accompanying activities, they explore how ground-based tracking and onboard measurements are performed. Also provided is an overview of orbits and spacecraft trajectories from Earth to other planets, and how spacecraft are tracked from the ground using the Deep Space Network (DSN). DSN measurements are the primary means for navigating unmanned vehicles in space. Onboard spacecraft instruments might include optical sensors and an inertial measurement unit (IMU).
Spacecraft navigation sometimes means steering away from meteors or space debris. Amazingly, there are ~9,000 pieces of human-made debris orbiting the Earth, some of which travels at speeds fast enough to threaten spacecraft and satellites. This debris ranges in size from paint flecks to pieces the size of a bedroom. A paint fleck once smashed into a space shuttle windshield and became embedded deep in the thick glass. So, to protect spacecraft and satellites from damage, engineers use powerful radar to track the location of the debris, and use this information to guide space flights and adjust satellite orbits to avoid the debris.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Understand the basic concept of an orbit around the Earth or sun.
- Understand the types of measurements that are made from Earth to track interplanetary spacecraft.
- Understand satellites and their usefulness in space exploration.
- Understand that navigational technology is based on fundamental math and science concepts