Why does the space shuttle's orbit look like a sine wave instead of a straight line orbit?

Answer 1

It only looks that way on a flat world map. On a globe it looks straight. The distortion necessary to map a round world onto a flat piece of paper distorts the shape.

Answer 2

I think you are talking about when it is in orbit. The map that NASA shows is the earth flattened. Since the earth is actually round, and shuttles don't fly around the planet parallel to its motion in space the path appears to be a sine wave. If the shuttle was flying exactly along the equator all around the earth then you would get a straight line.

Answer 3

When shown on a flat map, circular satellite orbits resemble sine curves. To show why this happens, wrap and tape a cylinder of paper around an Earth globe. Use a marker pen to draw an orbit around the cylinder. Start with an orbit inclined 28 degrees. Draw the line around the cylinder so that it falls on a plane inclined to the globe's equator by 28 degrees. Remove the cylinder and cut the paper along the line you drew. If you drew the line carefully, the edge of the cut will fall on a plane. Unwrap the cylinder and look at the shape of the orbit.

Answer 4

it's a nice way to convert polar coordinates into cartesian coordinates. When you project the polar orbit onto the map you use trigonometric functions like a sinus. So if you print out the projection, onto a map you get a sinusoidal.

Answer 5

If it traveled in a true straight line then it would leave the Earth gravitational pull and float into space.

Answer 6

I have noticed that as well... I am guessing it's cause of the world is round so the shuttle has to more with the worlds surface.

Answer 7

B/c they flatten the map out on the screen u r watching. I assume you are talkin about the map on the nasa channel.

Answer 8

you know those NASA boys