Monday, January 02, 2006
Satellite orbits
I came across this site quite honestly in the course of what I get paid to do, so I don't want you to think I'm sitting here screwing around on company time. Well, screwing around excessively on company time.
It takes a little while to load, but it’s worth it. I don’t know if it has absolutely every non-secret satellite that is in orbit, but it’s got a bunch of them.
The view from space (in the Java app window that should open) makes us look like sort of a poor man’s Saturn, with the ring of geosynchronous satellites at the equator. (Including “Rock” and “Roll” the two XM radio satellites.)
I was impressed with what a lot of stuff there is up there, especially in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In addition to working satellites, there is four million pounds of space junk, by one estimate. Bits and pieces that fall off - the celestial equivalent of tire tread by the side of the highway.
It takes a little while to load, but it’s worth it. I don’t know if it has absolutely every non-secret satellite that is in orbit, but it’s got a bunch of them.
The view from space (in the Java app window that should open) makes us look like sort of a poor man’s Saturn, with the ring of geosynchronous satellites at the equator. (Including “Rock” and “Roll” the two XM radio satellites.)
I was impressed with what a lot of stuff there is up there, especially in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In addition to working satellites, there is four million pounds of space junk, by one estimate. Bits and pieces that fall off - the celestial equivalent of tire tread by the side of the highway.
