like a car driving on the outside of a wheel, or does the object retain orientation and needs to be spun (like the moon)
2007-09-26 22:51:35 · 5 answers · asked by Matthew P 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
This is relevent to satelites. Do they need to be given a precise spin?
2007-09-26 23:07:29 · update #1
The fact that they are in orbit doesn't require them to be spinning as well. As mentioned, if they do spin, it's for some other reason.
2007-09-27 00:16:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either way - it's irrelevant. For instance, the earth orbits around the sun spinning as it goes, whereas the moon orbits around the earth in a locked-spin cycle. It's my understanding that it's a local gravitational / tide phenomenon which makes the moon spin in exact synchronicity with it's orbit.
2007-09-27 06:00:18 · answer #2 · answered by Yokki 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are extremely small forces, like a tidal force, that will tend to keep a satellite facing Earth, like the Moon does, but the force is so small that they usually cannot rely on that to stabilize the satellite so they have to control the orientation with gyros or small attitude thrusters.
2007-09-27 09:21:31 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satellites are often given a spin, only to stop one side being in direct sunlight all the time. This could cause heat build up problems.
2007-09-27 07:09:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No to your original question, yes to your supplementary question. If the orientation of the satellite is important, then it requires motion beyond that provided by just being in orbit.
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2007-09-27 07:31:42 · answer #5 · answered by tsr21 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋