Difference between revisions of "Orbital Beacon"
(New page: Orbital beacons are small spheres dotted with solar panels, containing a battery and a radio transmitter. It is designed to emit a 1 second pulse every 10 seconds at the habitable orbi...) |
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| − | [[Orbital beacon]]s are small spheres dotted with solar panels, containing a battery and a radio transmitter. It is designed to emit a 1 second pulse every 10 seconds at the habitable orbit range of a star. The pulse length and interval vary if the beacon is placed either closer in or further out. | + | [[Orbital beacon]]s are small spheres dotted with [[Photovoltaic cell|solar panels]], containing a battery and a radio transmitter. It is designed to emit a 1 second pulse every 10 seconds at the habitable orbit range of a star. The pulse length and interval vary if the beacon is placed either closer in or further out. The signal is usually transmitted on one or more standard navigation frequencies. |
| − | The purpose of an orbital beacon is to provide in-system navigation. The signal they emit is a very simply encoded time | + | The purpose of an orbital beacon is to provide in-system navigation. The signal they emit is a very simply encoded current time based upon an internal clock. This allows a navigator (or navigation program) to calculate a ships location and orbital path within a few minutes. |
Most systems with a class C or better [[Starport]] usually have several orbital beacons in solar orbits. | Most systems with a class C or better [[Starport]] usually have several orbital beacons in solar orbits. | ||
Revision as of 18:41, 12 April 2008
Orbital beacons are small spheres dotted with solar panels, containing a battery and a radio transmitter. It is designed to emit a 1 second pulse every 10 seconds at the habitable orbit range of a star. The pulse length and interval vary if the beacon is placed either closer in or further out. The signal is usually transmitted on one or more standard navigation frequencies.
The purpose of an orbital beacon is to provide in-system navigation. The signal they emit is a very simply encoded current time based upon an internal clock. This allows a navigator (or navigation program) to calculate a ships location and orbital path within a few minutes.
Most systems with a class C or better Starport usually have several orbital beacons in solar orbits.