The Earth - Moon Neighborhood Once we leave the Earths atmosphere we are in space. However, the Earth - Moon Neighborhood is.
Download ReportTranscript The Earth - Moon Neighborhood Once we leave the Earths atmosphere we are in space. However, the Earth - Moon Neighborhood is.
The Earth - Moon Neighborhood Once we leave the Earths atmosphere we are in space. However, the Earth - Moon Neighborhood is actually very crowded with A variety of man made objects, (satellites) and a lot of natural phenomenon like the Van Allen Radiation Belt, Near Earth Asteroids (NEA’s), also known as Near Earth Objects (NEO’s). There are hundreds of satellites orbiting the Earth at a variety of orbital altitudes and inclinations. Some times there are satellite crashes, creating a lot of orbital debris. There are thousands of Near Earth Asteroids, of various sizes, some of which actually pass between the Earth and the Moon. Some enter the Earth’s atmosphere, and some actually impact the Earth (that might be why we care about them – see the Tunguska Event). In addition there are special locations of interest where large space structures can be in a stable orbit in the Earth - Moon Neighborhood. These locations are called Lagrange Libration Points (a good place for a large space structure or a colony). S. Akerley 2011 The Earth - Moon Neighborhood NEAs Near Earth Asteroids Over the last 18 Years, More than 90 NEAs have been identified or have passed between the Earth and Moon Orbits. An Average of 5 per year. It is estimated that there are about 5000 NEAs of various sizes. Some have or will enter the Earths Atmosphere, and some will impact the Earth.. L4 Lagrange Libration Point L4 N# Distance Designation 1000 Miles Van Allen Radiation Belt (30,000 to 40,000 miles) Geo-Synchronous Earth Orbit (GEO Approx. 22,500 miles Altitude) Earth L1 L2 N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 4.0 7.9 8.3 18.9 20.8 2008 2004 2008 2008 2004 TC3 FU162 TS26 US YD5 N80 N81 N82 N83 N84 N85 N86 N87 N88 N89 N90 N91 241.7 247.2 259.1 263.7 265.5 265.5 266.5 267.4 278.4 278.4 281.2 281.2 2007 2008 2002 2007 1995 2004 2006 2008 1996 2006 2003 1991 YN1 WO2 GQ YS56 FF XP14 JY26 LD JA1 BH99 XV VG Moon (238,900 miles) Space Station Orbit (LOE) (Approx. 150 miles Altitude) (Atmosphere ends at 65 miles Altitude) (Hubble Telescope approx. 300 - 600 miles Altitude) Note: Lagrange Libration Point L4 and L5 Are equidistant from Earth and Moon At the Moons orbital distance N79 N1 N2 N3 N4 N89 Lagrange Libration Point L5 L5 S. Akerley 2011 400 Meter Diameter S. Akerley 2011 Close Encounters Different types of NEA Near Earth Asteroid “Fly By” Encounters S. Akerley 2011 Earth’s Gravity Well Earth L5 Gravity Wells Moon Near Earth Asteroids (NEA) art work courtesy of NASA S. Akerley 2011 Review of the