http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/satellite-fails-to-reach-proper-orbit/ Space and astronomy news Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:07:54 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/satellite-fails-to-reach-proper-orbit/comment-page-1/#comment-15855 Darren Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:17:32 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/satellite-fails-to-reach-proper-orbit/#comment-15855 You'll need a lot more than a "nudge"...it was off by something like 10,000 Km. There is enough fuel on board to get it to the proper orbit but it will significantly reduce the life expectancy of the satellite. One of my colleagues was the test conductor for that launch...it's always a bummer when you put so much time into a project only to have it fail because of something you can't control...at least it didn't blow up! You'll need a lot more than a "nudge"…it was off by something like 10,000 Km. There is enough fuel on board to get it to the proper orbit but it will significantly reduce the life expectancy of the satellite. One of my colleagues was the test conductor for that launch…it's always a bummer when you put so much time into a project only to have it fail because of something you can't control…at least it didn't blow up!

]]> http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/satellite-fails-to-reach-proper-orbit/comment-page-1/#comment-15817 Theo Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:09:24 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/satellite-fails-to-reach-proper-orbit/#comment-15817 It would seem to me a slow set of "thrusster nudges" would move it finally into orbit. In the way reduced gravity once the satellite is accelerated somewhat it would glide on that nudge until another nudge is needed. Not the fastest way in the world but one is exchanging fuel to time to final orbit. It would seem to me a slow set of "thrusster nudges" would move it finally into orbit. In the way reduced gravity once the satellite is accelerated somewhat it would glide on that nudge until another nudge is needed. Not the fastest way in the world but one is exchanging fuel to time to final orbit.

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