How do i : Squiggly line orbit

[MassiveEffectz]

I noticed that in some satellites maps. (Global 2d image with a satellites orbit path) The satellites had a squiggly line orbit over the earth, not in a straight line. How do i 'BREAK' out of a straight line orbit into a curved or crooked looking one?

[Kryten]

I noticed that in some satellites maps. (Global 2d image with a satellites orbit path) The satellites had a squiggly line orbit over the earth, not in a straight line. How do i 'BREAK' out of a straight line orbit into a curved or crooked looking one?

This is due to the fact that a map is distorted compared to the actual planet-a straight line over a globe becomes a curved line on a map.

[NovaSilisko]

Oh god. Oh god. Someone restrain me before I do something terrible.

[Newman]

Oh god. Oh god. Someone restrain me before I do something terrible.

I\'d love to help you out there, but I kinda need the same help you do here

[Newe6000]

Oh god. Oh god. Someone restrain me before I do something terrible.

*Duct tapes to satalite launching system*

There. Now guys remember NOT to launch this rocket but this one next to it thats 100% idential. Ok? Good.

[Guest Flixxbeatz]

what trickery is this?

[Winston]

Oh god. Oh god. Someone restrain me before I do something terrible.

brb committing suicide

[Ivan Ivanovich]

There I go and write guides, I explain the physics behind orbital flight, I write in length about how and why to change your orbits...

...and more and more I notice that it\'s in vain.

[RichieD76]

You got an iPhone/iPad? Search for orbit creator and check it out for yourself. It\'s WAY to tedious to explain I\'m afraid. Besides it more fun to learn that to be taught

[Newman]

There I go and write guides, I explain the physics behind orbital flight, I write in length about how and why to change your orbits...

...and more and more I notice that it\'s in vain.

If it\'ll make you feel better, I found your guides excellent, they really helped me figure out how orbital mechanics work. I went from barely being able to achieve orbit to planning my own Hohmann transfers, doing Mun return trips, going to a shorter solar orbit and back, stuff like that. Even the stuff I could do before I can now achieve with less fuel due to having an understanding of how things work, and planning my trajectory so I use gravitational forces exerted on the craft to my advantage, as opposed to fighting them all the time. All thanks to starting out with your guides as a sort of a foundation. True, I wasn\'t able to squiggly-line my orbits - guess your guides aren\'t THAT good (Kidding, for those who didn\'t find it obvious)

[Technical Ben]

We need a wooden spoon award.

PS, read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbit

Then http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map_projection

AND http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_rotation

ALL OF IT.

[Panichio]

Someone had to...

[OtherDalfite]

brb committing suicide

That made me lol. More on topic.

[lebull]

Satellites don\'t have a true squiggly orbit... they just use lots of fuel. Why do you think it costs so much to get something to low earth orbit and keep it there?

[Ydoow]

It\'s a good question guys, chillax. Not everyone is on the same level.

It was already explained, but I thought images might help.

Here\'s a picture of what you\'re talking about

They 'squiggle' because they have drawn a satellites orbital path and the earth on a flat piece of paper.

Now I\'m sure you know the earth is not flat, but round.

Imagine taking a round orange peel and try to make it flat without stretching or tearing any piece of it.

It\'s impossible

Which is why you get maps that distort the North/South poles, or maps with 'tears' on them.

You\'ll notice in the picture above, the North and South poles are distorted, those boxes are slightly taller than the ones at the middle.

Here\'s one where there are 'Tears' in the map: http://www.sea.edu/images/k-12/Image38.gif

Now watch what happens to the distorted map when I convert it to a sphere using an image processing program I have.

Pretty neat huh? It\'s a bit of a mind trick at first

[dbellmo2]

The below quote is from here:

http://www.spacebanter.com/showthread.php?t=169803

Map Projection for Satellites

For circle orbits ( Iorb - inclination, Torb – period)

X = C * L

dY/dPhi = C * sqrt( cos(Phi)^-2 + cos(Iorb)^-2 – 2 * Torb / (Tearth *

cos(Iorb) ) )

Possible: if PhiIorb

dY/dPhi = const = C * sqrt( cos(Iorb)^-2 + cos(Iorb)^-2 – 2 * Torb /

(Tearth * cos(Iorb) ) )

X, Y – map coordinates

L, Phi – longitude, latitude

Such map has property: equal paths (on map and on surface of sphere)

for equal times.

Example (Torb=90 minutes)

Iorb=51.6 (ISS) http://programtree.com/map51or.gif

Large BMP file(1920*1920) http://programtree.com/map51.bmp

Iorb=28.5 (Cape Canaveral) http://programtree.com/map28or.gif

Large BMP file(1920*1480) http://programtree.com/map28.bmp

Also if you want to learn all of the math behind orbital maps read this book on Google Books: Glossary of the Mapping Sciences - American Congress on Surveying and Mapping

BUT to echo what has already been said:

It looks 'Squiggly' because it\'s a 2D representation of a 3D object (or in this case objects). The globe has been flattened and the orbital path has been flattened on top of the (now) flat globe. The reason it isn\'t just a single sin wave on the map is because they\'re also factoring in the planet as it rotates under the object in space. (at least that\'s how I think of it).

Check out Orbitron (http://www.stoff.pl/) to get a cool map like this:

[CactuarLOL]

I think some of you people forget yourselves and are acting very rude, It is a blemish on the community when people react to peoples questions in such a way.

Ydoow explained it very well.

ThatCrazyPilot imo your comment is way out of line.

[Hypocee]

ThatCrazyPilot\'s a dumb kid. Whatchagonnado. The others are definitely, or could be, just kidding around. I\'d considered posting very much like that - approaching a line, we all start somewhere - but on second reading I think it\'s all intended in good humor.

[socket7]

It\'s a good question guys, chillax. Not everyone is on the same level.

It was already explained, but I thought images might help.

*Things are explained*

Pretty neat huh? It\'s a bit of a mind trick at first

Why thank you Ydoow! This is a wonderful post and represents what the community should be doing.

If someone didn\'t want to go to the trouble of writing up a post like Ydoow, Then why don\'t you link to one of the places it\'s already been explained?

What is wrong with you people that you have to say you want to kill yourself. or that your guide writing is in vain when you won\'t even post a link to it?

[WX_Echo]

Sometimes you\'re the bug, and sometimes you\'re the windshield.

The hilarious responses in this thread were well worth the read. ;D

As this horse is already been beaten well beyond death, I will not add yet another explanation to the discussion. 8)

[CactuarLOL]

Luckily the mods have removed the offensive posts from the thread, Good work mod team!

[icefire]

It\'s a shame the sphere trick doesn\'t work too well on geosynchronous orbits and beyond.

Tundra orbit:

Molniya orbit:

[Moach]

here\'s more on the whole deal.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_track

now, for all who replied with unhelpful comments:

please don\'t insult people for posting questions you may feel are 'stupid' -- it sounds terribly arrogant if you and your friends won\'t wanna play with you anymore if you keep that attitude - so try to be nice or just don\'t post at all :thumbup:

[mincespy]

It\'s a shame the sphere trick doesn\'t work too well on geosynchronous orbits and beyond.

Tundra orbit:

Molniya orbit:

How do you do that. Tell me now.

[icefire]

Do what, place the textures on a sphere or how to inject into those orbits?