115 Space Flashcards
Describe Space Force Enhancement
5 Enhancement missions:
- ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance)
- Missile warning
- Environmental monitoring
- Satellite communications
- PNT
Describe Space Support
Space lift operations (launching satellites), satellite operations, & reconstitution of space forces
Describe Space Control
Provides freedom of action in space & denies adversary
Describe Space Force Application
Defined as combat operations in, thru, & from space.
Describe how the Sun affects communications
Biggest effect on space environment; fueled by nuclear-fusion.
Describe how Solar Wind affects communications
Electronically charged particles that stream continuously from sun form Solar Wind. Degrades radar performance.
Describe how the Solar Cycle affects communications
11-year cycle. Generally, there’s a 4-year rise to a solar maximum followed by a gradual 7-year decline to solar minimum.
Describe how Van Allen Radiation Belts affect communications
Two concentric, donut-shaped regions of stable, trapped charged particles. Serious impact on satellite operations.
Describe how Atmospheric Drag affects communications
Energy deposited in earth’s upper atmosphere by charged particle bombardment heats atmosphere, causing it to expand outward over a period of time; produces more frictional drag on a satellite.
- Identify Low Earth Orbits
Altitudes between 150 and 800 miles above earth’s surface
- Identify Medium Earth Orbits
Semi-Synchronous Orbit: Purpose is to allow a user to receive signals from multiple satellites at any time.
Sun-Synchronous Orbit: Takes advantage of precession of orbital plane caused by earth not being a perfect sphere. If a satellite’s orbital period is synchronized with rotation of earth, it will pass over same point on earth’s surface at same local time, at a regular interval.
- Identify Highly Elliptical Orbits
Slows down at apogee (farthest away) & whips through perigee (closest)
- Identify Geosynchronous Orbits
Satellites remain over same area of earth
- Identify Polar Orbits
Used extensively by imagery satellites due to ability to pass over entire surface of earth throughout several days.
Define Apogee
Point on the orbit FARTHEST from the surface of the earth