I was watching the NASA feed of the space shuttles orbital path and it appears to be a vertical slalom when projected against a map of the earth. Pardon my ignorance but why isn't it circular or ellipsoidal ?
Thanks
2006-09-10 01:16:56 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
that's a Mercator projection map and the path around the spherical earth projects that way on that map. Greenland is very distorted as are all high latitude and low lattitude parts of out globe.
2006-09-10 04:48:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it has something to do with orbital bolts and nuts micro meteors the space station orbit is over the poles too. so in order to catch the space station the shuttle has to glide up from behind retro fire to slow down and dock.
2006-09-10 08:23:29 · answer #2 · answered by John Paul 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the earth is not flast but you r looking at the path on a flat screen.
2006-09-10 12:32:08 · answer #3 · answered by pattysman38344 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋