Rotation and Revolution

The object movies below show one orbit of the shuttle orbiter at an inclination of 45 degrees. The movies shows a slightly transparent earth so you can see the orientation of the shuttle on the far side of the Earth. Run each movie and observe the differences in the motion of the orbiter, even though it is still in a 45 degree inclination. To operater the Quicktime object movie, click on the movie while dragging across the screen.

Movie A displays the shuttle similar to how it appears in the inclination simulation. Movies B and C show other possible movements. Keep in mind that the orbiter is in free orbit, no other force is acting on it besides gravity between the orbiter and the Earth. The shuttle orbiter can be oriented in any direction, or rotating in any direction as it is revolving around the Earth. Use the folliwng questions to assist you in your investigation.

1. Which of the movies show no rotation of the orbiter as observed from a point in space?

2. Which of the movies show an orbiter motion which could be used in an EarthKam mission (remember where the camera is mounted).

3. Which of the movies show the orbiter rotating around the pitch principle axis as observed from a point in space?

4. Which of the movies show the orbiter rotating around the roll principle axis as observed from a point in space?

5. In Movie C, how many times does the orbiter rotate for each revolution around the earth?

6. Which of the movies show a rotation and revolution similar to the motion of the moon around the earth?

| Science Simulations | Mission Control |

Copyright 1999 John C. Park for The Science Junction

Still images of Earth ©1999 The Living Earth, Inc.