how do satellites stay at the same elevations and speed in orbit?
In: Engineering
Basically we throw them high enough that they get to a point that there is no aerodynamic drag (there can still be a tiny amount in certain orbits, but it’s a known quantity now that is planned for).
When it’s high enough, we get it going fast enough sideways that as it’s falling back towards earth, it “misses” and keeps falling.
Of course launches don’t go straight up and then straight sideways. The efficient path is called a gravity turn, in which the rocket starts vertical and slowly tilts towards horizontal until it’s basically burning parallel to the earth’s surface.
Think of throwing a ball. The throw has an arch to it. No think about throwing that ball so hard that by the time it’s at it’s at the top of it’s arch and begins falling back down, the earth has moved out from under it, and it just keeps falling forever, with earth continuing to move out from under it.
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