ztmike
Mark for moderation
Premium
join:2001-08-02
Michigan City, IN
 ·Comcast
1 edit | Shows what i know..me=dumb
I thought satellites that were released in space never die unless something dies that couldn't be possibly fixed?
Unless something that dies that keeps it in orbit..
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"I am the worst president in U.S history, I'm either stupid or dumb most of the time, but people still believe me." George W. Bush |
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voiplover
Premium
join:2004-05-28
Portsmouth, NH
 ·callwithus
·Axvoice
| Space dust hitting the satellite at thousands of miles per hour puts holes in all kind of things. 
The first satellites suffered solder hairs that grow rapidly in a vacuum environment....  |
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bogey780
join:2004-03-19
Here | reply to ztmike
I don't know if this is the reason but this bird uses 12kW of juice. I imagine the hardiest of powerplants still needs some maintenance. |
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wolfox
Gentle Wolfox
join:2002-11-27
Dunnellon, FL
| reply to voiplover
Satellites carry a finite amount of compressed gasses on-board that are used through it's lifetime to correct it's place in space. Especially on geo-synchronous birds. When they run out of spritz, they fall from orbit and die.
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The RIAA killed my legal webcast. Sadly it will never be mourned... |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Torrance, CA
clubs:
| They don't "fall from orbit". When the onboard consumables get low, they let it drift North-South for a while, and then use the remaining fuel to boost it up and out to a graveyard orbit. About half the lift-off weight is fuel, and about 90% of that is used for North-South station-keeping. Once they're in the proper orbit, they drift very little East-West.
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03 | Since they're solar powered, couldn't they be maneuvered via electric means? |
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Healbot
Premium
join:2003-07-16
Vancouver, WA
| said by PolarBear  :Since they're solar powered, couldn't they be maneuvered via electric means? I don't think an electric motor can spin air that doesn't exist. |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03 | Oh sure, you just HAVE to bring up stupid laws of physics... ugh!  |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Torrance, CA
clubs:
| reply to PolarBear
Well...."kinda-sorta". Hughes (now Boeing) invented the "XIPS" Xenon-Ion-Propulsion-System which uses electric power to produce a plasma from Xenon liquid. It's very efficient, but still relies on having a tank of *something* to use. Eventually, you run out of "stuff" to use, which renders an otherwise "good" satellite defunct.
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. |
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N10Cities
SILENCE I Keel You
Premium
join:2002-05-07
Roland, OK
clubs:
·Cox HSI
 ·World Lynx
1 edit | said by drjim :Well...."kinda-sorta". Hughes (now Boeing) invented the "XIPS" Xenon-Ion-Propulsion-System which uses electric power to produce a plasma from Xenon liquid. It's very efficient, but still relies on having a tank of *something* to use. Eventually, you run out of "stuff" to use, which renders an otherwise "good" satellite defunct. --- |
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