Would it be possible to put a satellite into an elliptical orbit around Mars?
The orbit I am thinking of would ideally be closer to Mars's North and south poles than the other parts of Mars.
2007-08-26 03:52:26 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yes, BUT... the kind of orbit you want is not possible.
An elliptical orbit does not put the planet at the center, it puts it at one of the two foci (a circular orbit is an ellipse with the two foci at the same point). There is one point in the orbit where the satellite is closest to the primary, and on the opposite side of the orbit it is furthest away. Therefore, you could have an orbit which is closest to the planet over either the north or south pole, but not both.
2007-08-26 04:43:08 · answer #1 · answered by Engineer-Poet 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why would you need to be closer to the poles than the rest of the planet? Is Mars scary or something? Why not put your craft in a low polar orbit that brings it close to all parts of the planet including the poles? Let´s not discriminate here.
It is actually easier to get to an elliptical orbit from earth and most missions to Mars began orbiting the planet in an elliptical orbit. It was then gradually altered to become more circular because that is the kind of orbit you want.
So it is possible to put an object in orbit around Mars that brings it close to the poles. But not an elliptical orbit as only one pole can be the closest point. It would have to be a circular orbit.
2007-08-26 13:55:05 · answer #2 · answered by DrAnders_pHd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has been done, for example, by the Mars Polar Orbiter (the one that was lost in 1999).
Actually, just about every orbit is elliptical. It's the circular orbits that are hard, they need to be precisely round with exactly the right speed and distance. If the speed doesn't match the distance, then you get an elliptical orbit.
As for being closer to the north and south poles, that's called a polar orbit. To do that, the Mars polar orbiter needs to get close to Mars, with a speed that is directed north or south.
2007-08-26 12:12:33 · answer #3 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and it has been done already, but not the way you are thinking. An elliptical orbit can have only one low point and one high point, it cannot have two low points.So you would have to pick the pole you like better and make that the low point, which would make the high point over the other pole, because the low and high points in an elliptical orbit are always directly opposite each other. The low and high points have to be at the skinny ends of the ellipse, not on the longer flatter sides.
2007-08-26 12:47:48 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't see why not
2007-09-03 08:45:30 · answer #5 · answered by jimi c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, regardless it's orientation to the surface.
2007-09-02 12:19:48 · answer #6 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just as easy as it would to do it here at the Earth. With the exception of the device having to travel to get there of course.
2007-08-26 10:59:00 · answer #7 · answered by bender_xr217 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
of course it is!
we just need the astronaut people to guide the object correctly! ion engines are the wave of the future as well as other technology lets use them!
2007-08-26 11:00:17 · answer #8 · answered by kashyyyyko 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋