Geostationary satellites are not tracked. They’re uh, stationary. GPS satellites are not geosynchronous. So, they are tracked. But satellites that aren’t geosynchronous are tracked by radar, not stationary satcom terminals or receivers. The radar antennas have to be rotatable. I used to be a range rat at NASA.
Satellites have max 20 watts transmit!
Just saw this statistic in a NASA video about the Deep Space Array.
Turns out that due to limitations in power gathering, etc. satellites transmit power is only about 20 watts! That is true even for deep space probes which have already breached the limits of the solar system.
Wow.
Imagine being able to see a 20 watt light bulb at Saturn from here.
Turns out that due to limitations in power gathering, etc. satellites transmit power is only about 20 watts! That is true even for deep space probes which have already breached the limits of the solar system.
Wow.
Imagine being able to see a 20 watt light bulb at Saturn from here.
- ...
- 31 posts total
| Post removed |
As of April 2018, there were 548 satellites, listed as being in geosynchronous Earth orbit. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_satellites_in_geosynchronous_orbit) There were 1886 satellites in orbit, as of the same time frame(April 2018). (https://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-weapons/space-weapons/satellite-database#.XA0iunRKg1J) Slightly over one third is NOT, "most"(at least not in THIS universe). |
| Post removed |
| Post removed |
- 31 posts total