EE_
24th June 2011, 04:59 PM
Imagine is the biggest black swan event of our lives turned out to be an asteroid impact with a satellite, that set off an unstoppable chain reaction destroying all satellites.
How do you think that would affect our lives?
ASTEROID FLYBY:
Newly-discovered asteroid 2011 MD will pass only 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) above Earth's surface on Monday June 27 at about 9:30 a.m. EDT. NASA analysts say there is no chance the space rock will strike Earth. Nevertheless, the encounter is so close that Earth's gravity will sharply alter the asteroid's trajectory:
At closest approach, 2011 MD will pass in broad daylight over the southern Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Antarctica. As the asteroid recedes from Earth, it will pass through the zone of geosynchronous satellites. The chances of a collision with a satellite or manmade space junk are extremely small, albeit not zero.
Judging from the brightness of the asteroid, it measures only 5 to 20 meters in diameter. According to JPL's Near Earth Object Program office, one would expect an object of this size to come this close to Earth about every 6 years on average. For a brief time, it will be bright enough to be seen even with a medium-sized backyard telescope.
http://spaceweather.com/
http://www.idirect.net/Company/Satellite-Basics/~/media/Images/Satellite%20Basics/globe_LEO_MEO_GEO.ashx?w=450&h=200&as=1
A communications satellite is a satellite located in space for the purposes of telecommunications. There are three altitude classifications for satellite orbits:
LEO – Low Earth Orbit
LEO satellites orbit from 160-2000km above the earth, take approximately 1.5 hrs for a full orbit and only cover a portion of the earth’s surface, therefore requiring a network or constellation of satellites to provide global, continual coverage. Due to the proximity to Earth, LEO satellites have a lower latency (latency is the time between the moment a packet is transmitted and the moment it reaches its destination) and require less amplification for transmission.
MEO – Medium Earth Orbit
MEO satellites are located above LEO and below GEO satellites and typically travel in an elliptical orbit over the North and South Pole or in an equatorial orbit. These satellites are traditionally used for GPS navigation systems and are sometimes used by satellite operators for voice and data communications. MEO satellites require a constellation of satellites to provide continuous coverage. Tracking antennas are needed to maintain the link as satellites move in and out of the antenna range.
GEO – Geostationary Orbit
GEO satellites orbit at 35,786 km (22,282 mi) above the equator in the same direction and speed as the earth rotates on its axis. This makes it appear to the earth station as fixed in the sky. The majority of commercial communications satellites operate in this orbit; however, due to the distance from the earth there is a longer latency.
How do you think that would affect our lives?
ASTEROID FLYBY:
Newly-discovered asteroid 2011 MD will pass only 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) above Earth's surface on Monday June 27 at about 9:30 a.m. EDT. NASA analysts say there is no chance the space rock will strike Earth. Nevertheless, the encounter is so close that Earth's gravity will sharply alter the asteroid's trajectory:
At closest approach, 2011 MD will pass in broad daylight over the southern Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Antarctica. As the asteroid recedes from Earth, it will pass through the zone of geosynchronous satellites. The chances of a collision with a satellite or manmade space junk are extremely small, albeit not zero.
Judging from the brightness of the asteroid, it measures only 5 to 20 meters in diameter. According to JPL's Near Earth Object Program office, one would expect an object of this size to come this close to Earth about every 6 years on average. For a brief time, it will be bright enough to be seen even with a medium-sized backyard telescope.
http://spaceweather.com/
http://www.idirect.net/Company/Satellite-Basics/~/media/Images/Satellite%20Basics/globe_LEO_MEO_GEO.ashx?w=450&h=200&as=1
A communications satellite is a satellite located in space for the purposes of telecommunications. There are three altitude classifications for satellite orbits:
LEO – Low Earth Orbit
LEO satellites orbit from 160-2000km above the earth, take approximately 1.5 hrs for a full orbit and only cover a portion of the earth’s surface, therefore requiring a network or constellation of satellites to provide global, continual coverage. Due to the proximity to Earth, LEO satellites have a lower latency (latency is the time between the moment a packet is transmitted and the moment it reaches its destination) and require less amplification for transmission.
MEO – Medium Earth Orbit
MEO satellites are located above LEO and below GEO satellites and typically travel in an elliptical orbit over the North and South Pole or in an equatorial orbit. These satellites are traditionally used for GPS navigation systems and are sometimes used by satellite operators for voice and data communications. MEO satellites require a constellation of satellites to provide continuous coverage. Tracking antennas are needed to maintain the link as satellites move in and out of the antenna range.
GEO – Geostationary Orbit
GEO satellites orbit at 35,786 km (22,282 mi) above the equator in the same direction and speed as the earth rotates on its axis. This makes it appear to the earth station as fixed in the sky. The majority of commercial communications satellites operate in this orbit; however, due to the distance from the earth there is a longer latency.