Do satellites pass through it, over it, under it? Or is the asteroid belt not as cluttered as we see it in the movies?
2006-07-02 18:43:27 · 9 answers · asked by ernestking19033 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
the satellites that orbit the earth are inside the asteroid belt, things we send outside , not for orbit but to go on to other planets are aimed as well as possible to go through the asteroid belt. We do know the rotation of many of the larger asteroids through any specific bit of space and since they can be predicted we can aim to miss them. I assume its not really as highly cluttered as the movies make it look.
2006-07-02 18:47:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a satellite passes through the asteroid belt, the main danger is collision with micrometeorites, and being sand blasted, rather than a big catastrophic collision. There's far more empty space there than particles bigger than a grain of sand. Alternatives are to pass over or under the ecliptic plane, though this doesn't completely eliminate the risk of a collision. Some asteroids have orbital planes at quite large angles to the ecliptic. The asteroid belt is more devoid of rocks than the airspace over the Atlantic is of aircraft and birds. The only place in the Solar System where flying blind is certain death would be in the rings of Saturn, and even there you'd be fairly safe if you flew in the same direction and at the same orbital speed as the bits of ice and rock surrounding you.
2006-07-02 18:57:29 · answer #2 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The asteroid belt is nowhere near as cluttered as we see in movies - asteroids in the belt are usually dozens or even hundreds of kilometers apart. For the most part, you can pick a completely random course through the belt and stand a good (>99%) chance of not hitting anything.
2006-07-02 18:56:57 · answer #3 · answered by Pascal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not actually as cluttered as we see in movies, however, the asteroids that are there are moving much faster than sound, and if one of them does hit, the satellite is done for.
2006-07-02 18:47:59 · answer #4 · answered by Max J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Luck. I think objects are probably a million kilometres apart at that point, it is quite a large area to be streched across. Although if you have enough asteroids it could be a bit more cluttered you need to know how many asteroids there are really.
2006-07-02 18:58:10 · answer #5 · answered by The Great Turtle Speaks 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the satellites are programmed to go under or over the asteroid belt so they will have no contact at all with it
2006-07-02 21:18:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
WIth speed greater than the speed of escape!
2006-07-02 19:39:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they dont go pass the belt...
2006-07-02 19:09:39 · answer #8 · answered by Andrew 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we send about a thousand at a time that way one does make it time to time.
2006-07-02 18:59:51 · answer #9 · answered by likeablerabbit_loose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋