Podcaster: Richard Drumm
Title: Space Scoop: Where Do Old Satellites Go to Die?
Organization:365 Days Of Astronomy
Link : astrosphere.org ; http://unawe.org/kids/unawe1711/
Description: Space scoop, news for children
Our understanding of Saturn’s rings is still evolving. A team of researchers using observations made in 2008 have managed to measure the brightness and temperature of Saturn’s rings in more detail than ever. More detail in mid-infrared images from the ground, that is.
Each week we will have a random drawing for a prize package from our sponsor. Enter the code for this week into this site: https://cosmoquest.org/achievements/code for a chance to win.
This week’s code is JgkuYt . Enter it into the website to unlock the achievement and enter the contest.
Bio: Richard Drumm is President of the Charlottesville Astronomical Society and President of 3D – Drumm Digital Design, a video production company with clients such as Kodak, Xerox and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. He was an observer with the UVa Parallax Program at McCormick Observatory in 1981 & 1982. He has found that his greatest passion in life is public outreach astronomy and he pursues it at every opportunity.
Today’s sponsor: This episode of “365 Days of Astronomy” is sponsored by — no one. We still need sponsors for many days in 2016, so please consider sponsoring a day or two. Just click on the “Donate” button on the lower left side of this webpage, or contact us at signup@365daysofastronomy.org.
Transcript:
This is the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast. Today we bring you a new episode in our Space Scoop series. This show is produced in collaboration with Universe Awareness, a program that strives to inspire every child with our wonderful cosmos.
Where Do Old Satellites Go to Die?
Thousands of satellites orbit the Earth. But, like everything else, satellites don’t last forever. They have limited fuel and the harsh conditions of outer space can put a lot of wear and tear on ’em.
When they can no longer operate, great care has to be taken to ensure that they can’t damage other satellites.
When those orbiting closest to Earth have achieved their mission, which is usually within 25 years, they are maneuvered even closer, so they will re-enter the atmosphere and burn up.
But this is impossible for the more distant satellites. The amount of fuel they’d need to make it back into Earth’s atmosphere would make them too heavy to put into space in the first place!
Instead, at the end of their lives, these satellites are put into a high, so-called “graveyard” orbit.
The graveyard orbit zone is at least 200 km higher than the 35,800 km orbits of normal geosynchronous satellites. Here they won’t collide with those geosynchronous satellites that are still working.
This is exactly what happened in April to a very successful satellite called Meteosat-7. After almost 20 years of service, which was 15 years more than intended, the satellite has been maneuvered to its new and final resting place. This may be as high as 500 km higher than the geosynchronous orbit it came from.
Meteosat-7 was part of a group of weather satellites that continues to cover the whole Earth, providing weather forecasts and warnings. Meteosat-7 was the last of the older series of satellites.
Starting with Meteosat-8 a newer, more modern, second generation of satellites has been launched. Meteosat-8 has taken over Meteosat-7’s Indian Ocean slot while the older satellite is retired.
Hey, Here’s A Cool Fact:
The number of satellites in the graveyard orbit is already in the hundreds. With new spacecraft launched each year, this region could also become overcrowded. Scientists are still looking for a permanent solution for this issue, including removing or collecting the old satellites.
Can Elon Musk be far behind with a satellite salvage operation?
Thank you for listening to the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast!
End of podcast:
365 Days of Astronomy
=====================
The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by Astrosphere New Media. Audio post-production by Richard Drumm. Bandwidth donated by libsyn.com and wizzard media. You may reproduce and distribute this audio for non-commercial purposes. Please consider supporting the podcast with a few dollars (or Euros!). Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org. This year we will celebrate more discoveries and stories from the universe. Join us and share your story. Until tomorrow! Goodbye!