Forum:Satellite orbit question
CT Book 6 Scouts has two charts on page 28 showing Planetary and Satelitte orbits. The Planetary orbits are listed by position and distance, but the satellite orbits are listed only by position. Does anyone know the formula necessary to calculate the distance for each satelitte orbit position?
Thanks,
John @ fersboo@yahoo.com and http://lancestolasers.blogspot.com
- I don't know, but you might try signing onto the traveller mailing list at travellercentral.com and asking there - it's got a lot of "gearheads". Allens 16:53, July 29, 2010 (UTC)
- The satellite position number is planetary diameters. So a satellite in position 7 is orbiting at 7 planetary diameters. Tjoneslo 20:12, July 29, 2010 (UTC)
- Thanks. I thought about that after I posted the question.
Incorrect actually. The position number is the planetary radii, not diameters - it says so right there at the bottom of the table on page 28. A satellite in position 7 is therefore orbiting at a distance of 7 planetary radii (i.e. 3.5 diameters). Obviously, to determine that distance you take the planet's UWP size code and divide it by two, then multiply the result by the number of radii, and then multiply that by 1000 for orbital distance in miles (or by 1600 for orbital distance in km). Trying this for Luna gives a result of 384000 km, which is roughly right (about 60 earth radii). Evildrganymede 19:05, July 31, 2010 (UTC)