Running head: TAKING ORBITS INTO ACCOUNT

Taking Orbits Into Account

Why the National Astronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Takes Orbits Under
Consideration
Jacob Riley
EKU Dual Credit English 101/ Rockcastle County High School

Author Note: This paper has been prepared for Dual Credit English 101, Taught by
Markita Proctor

TAKING ORBITS INTO ACCOUNT

Taking Orbits Into Account

Why the National Astronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Takes Orbits Under
Consideration
The National Astronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched many
missions into space. Whether it was the iconic moon landing, launching a satellite to orbit Earth
or another celestial object, or any other type of mission, NASA had to take many different factors
into account: from the multiple gravitational forces caused by orbital forces from other objects to
calculating the amount of thrust needed to break atmosphere. Due to the significance of orbits in
the way the universe works, past NASA projects show that many of their missions require them
to work with or around Earths orbit and the orbits of other celestial objects.
To put it simply, an orbit is merely the gravity of a celestial object causing a nearby
moving object to be caught in a revolutionary pattern. For example, if an asteroid were to fly
towards the outer edge of something like a planet bigger than it, gravitational forces of that
planet would divert the asteroid from going straight and whip it around the planet. If it were to
whip and remain within the gravitational forces of the planet, it would continually whip around
the object. This constant whipping around the planet is called an orbit.
The idea of looking closer at orbits started with two astronomers: Tycho Brahe and
Johannes Kepler. It is said in Merriam-Websters Biographical Dictionary (2009) that Brahe was
an astronomer in Bohemia appointed by the leader at the time Rudolph II, with Kepler as his
assistant. Brahe looked at Earth as the center of the solar system rather than the sun. However,

TAKING ORBITS INTO ACCOUNT

his way of looking at it wasnt a typical geocentric way, or rather he didnt think Earth was the
only thing objects revolved around. He saw the solar system structured as the sun revolving
Taking Orbits Into Account
Why the National Astronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Takes Orbits Under
Consideration
around Earth and the other planets in the solar system revolving around the sun (para. 1).
Eventually as told in Comptons by Britannica v 6.0 (2009) Kepler took Brahes place as
astronomer and astrologer after he died. Rather than focusing on what revolved around what,
Kepler observed the planets orbits themselves. By observing their orbits, Kepler eventually
came up with the laws of planetary motion. With these laws, Kepler was able to predict positions
of the planets at a certain time. With Keplers understanding of planetary motion, he was able to
update a set of tables Brahe had started which told the positions of celestial objects. These tables
were called the Rudolphine Tables which are still used by NASA today (para. 3, 4, and 9).
Pinpointing Objects With Orbits
As said before, Kepler was able to find out the location of objects due to his development
of the laws of planetary motion. It is shown in Comptons by Britannica v 6.0 (2009) that Kepler
developed the idea that the shape of orbits were elliptical, and with more observation and
mathematics, he was able to predict where the object would be from one point in time to another
using the orbital pattern (para. 1). It is even said in Hudon (2009) that Keplers work managed to
predict when Mercury and Venus passed in front of the sun in 1631 causing for confidence in his
motion laws (para. 17). Using orbits to predict where a celestial object goes has proven vital to
NASA in multiple missions. For example, NASA had the problem of getting a man on the moon.

TAKING ORBITS INTO ACCOUNT

Mcgowan (2009) states that out of their solutions, One was called Lunar Orbit Rendezvous. . .
this idea meant coming together in orbit around the moon (p. 41-42). The strategy required
Taking Orbits Into Account
Why the National Astronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Takes Orbits Under
Consideration
NASA to have knowledge of how the moon orbited Earth and how fast it was moving. NASA
would have to hold off on the shuttle launch until the moon was in a certain position. In this
position, the amount of time it would take to get to the moon would be the amount of time the
moon needed to get into another predicted position to rendezvous with the ship. Without the
knowledge of orbits, NASA wouldnt have been able to plan a path to the moon since they
wouldnt be able to understand the moving target and would have had a failing strategy.
Everything has an Orbit
In the moon landing, NASA had to worry about more than just the moons orbital motion,
they had to worry about the orbital motion of the shuttle in correspondence to Earth. Even when
out of the atmosphere, Earth was under gravitational influence from multiple sources: The Earth,
The Sun, and The Moon. Sellers, Astore, Griffon, and Larson (2005) state in their example of a
mission where men were sent to repair the Hubble Telescope above Earth that Because a space
craft is always in the gravitational field of some central body. . ., it has to follow orbital motion
laws in getting from one place to another (p. 192). This concept had to be incorporated in the
moon mission. The Moons orbit wouldve needed to be understood to figure out the best
trajectory for meeting up with it. The Earths orbital forces wouldve needed to be understood to
get a sense of when to launch the shuttle so that it could thrust enough to fight Earths orbit

TAKING ORBITS INTO ACCOUNT

enough to move in the right direction. Finally, The Suns orbital forces would cause a constant
shift in direction for the shuttle due to its massive pull throughout the solar system. This shows
Taking Orbits Into Account
Why the National Astronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Takes Orbits Under
Consideration
just how much orbital force would need to be taken into account since there were so many
objects pulling on the shuttle.
A Different Orbit can Mean a Different Function or Design
Orbits are able to affect the design of different spacecraft based upon the job it is meant
to carry out. In some cases, this affects the design and size of certain satellites based on what
their function is. The orbit of the satellite also depends on its function. For example, Janes
International Review (2014) gives the example of putting a photographing satellite in a lower
orbit. This is due to the fact that a closer orbit would mean better pictures of the target. However,
it is also stated that satellites that are larger have a more diverse selection of purposes and are
more durable. The larger satellites are therefore placed in further out orbits. With the
understanding of how orbits work, NASA not only knows the type of satellite needed for a
specific job in a specific orbit, but they can also reduce costs by not wasting materials if they
were to only make large commercial satellites. This allows them to fund other missions and
projects (para. 10, 11, and 20).
Orbits dont only apply to unmanned craft design, they also apply to the design of things
like space stations. Sparrow (2006) describes how due to the orbital pattern of the international

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space station, zero gravity appears to occur due to the stations orbit canceling out the downward
force of Earths pull (p. 32). Understanding orbital forces is able to help NASA develop space

Taking Orbits Into Account

Why the National Astronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Takes Orbits Under
Consideration
station interiors in order to deal with zero gravity in the safest way and maintain the exact orbit
causing the illusion of constant free fall on the station.
Orbits in the end effect not only how space works, but also affect how NASA hosts
missions within it. Orbits cause NASA to plan years ahead of their launches by planning out the
trajectory of the vessel and its interior and exterior design. NASA must plan not only around but
with orbital forces to get their launches to go according to plan. They truly show that from Brahe,
to Kepler, to today, orbits are a very large factor in NASAs research and missions.

TAKING ORBITS INTO ACCOUNT

References
Big versus small: the challenge of satellite advancement. (2014). Janes international
review, 12, n/a. Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com
Brahe, tycho. (2009). Merriam-Websters Biographical Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved
from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com
Hudon, Daniel. (2009). How johannes kepler revolutionized astronomy. Astronomy. 1, 56.
Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com
Kepler, Johannes. (2009). Comptons by britannica v 6.0. Retrieved from
http://elibrary.bigchalk.com
Mcgowan, T. (2009). Space race: the mission the men the moon. Berkley Heights, NJ: Enslow
Publishers Inc.
Sellers, J.J, Astore, W.J, Griffen, R.B, & Larson, W. J. (2005). Maneuvering in Space. In D.
Kirkpatrick (Ed.), Understanding space: an introduction to astronautics (3rd ed.)(p.192).
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Sparrow, G. (2006). Astronauts. White Lion Street, London. World Almanac Library