1. Orbital Mechanics
Ted Spitzmiller

2. Space… the final Frontier!
How far out from our planet does the atmosphere extend ?
How far out from our planet is the ISS ?

3. Getting Into Orbit
Orbital Velocity 17,500 mph

4. Going to the Moon
Escape Velocity 24,500 MPH

5. How Far is the Moon? 240,000 miles (average)
If the Earth were the size of a basketball
How big would the Moon be?
How far should we place the Moon?
Earth 8,000 in diameter (1 foot basketball)
Divide 8,000 into 240,000

6. Going to Mars 93 million miles 142 million miles Earth Orbit
Mars Orbit
93 million miles
Sun
Earth’s Rotation
142 million miles
Earth
Relative position at time of Viking launch
Mars

7. Going to Mars Path of Viking spacecraft Earth Orbit Mars Orbit Sun
Earth’s Rotation
Earth
Relative position at time of Viking launch
Mars

8. Going to Mars Path of Viking spacecraft Earth Orbit Mars Orbit Sun
Relative position at time of Viking Arrival at Mars
Earth’s Rotation
Earth
Earth
Mars

9. Going to Mars Path of Viking spacecraft Earth Orbit Mars Orbit Sun
Earth’s Rotation
Earth Orbit
Mars Orbit
Mars
Relative position at time of Viking launch
Relative position at time of Viking Arrival at Mars
Path of Viking spacecraft

10. Review Speed necessary to achieve Earth Orbit?
Minimum height of a “stable” Earth Orbit?
Approximate extent of the Earth’s atmosphere?
Distance to the Moon?
Relative size of the Earth to the Moon?
Distance between Earth’s orbit and Mars’ orbit?
Earth’s gravitational Escape velocity?