These types of orbits also have the property that the perceived loiter time is different for the perigee and apogee.
At perigee (closest to Earth) it will be moving very fast and so any changes to velocity will have a large impact (easily change orbit).
While at apogee it will appear to sit in space and move quite slowly. As an example this is used for the Russian GPS system so their satellites can sit in high earth latitudes for longer needing fewer satellites to cover Russia.
As an example this is used for the Russian GPS system so their satellites can sit in high earth latitudes for longer needing fewer satellites to cover Russia.
It's used for communications satellites and is called the Molniya orbit[1]. Their GLONASS (positioning system) satellites use circular medium altitude orbits, but with a higher inclination (about 65 deg vs. GPS's 55 deg).
If you can easily adjust your orbit, it's easy to see lots of places on the earth, or tweak what time you will be over a part of the earth (eg if you want to look at something whose owners know to hide it when satellites are overhead)
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With a far point so far away from Earth it also means that it requires only tiny amounts of fuel for major orbit changes.
My orbital mechanics is (like most people) weak, is this intended as a generalized physical threat to other satellites?
Not necessarily.
These types of orbits also have the property that the perceived loiter time is different for the perigee and apogee.
At perigee (closest to Earth) it will be moving very fast and so any changes to velocity will have a large impact (easily change orbit).
While at apogee it will appear to sit in space and move quite slowly. As an example this is used for the Russian GPS system so their satellites can sit in high earth latitudes for longer needing fewer satellites to cover Russia.
As an example this is used for the Russian GPS system so their satellites can sit in high earth latitudes for longer needing fewer satellites to cover Russia.
It's used for communications satellites and is called the Molniya orbit[1]. Their GLONASS (positioning system) satellites use circular medium altitude orbits, but with a higher inclination (about 65 deg vs. GPS's 55 deg).
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molniya_orbit
Isn’t GLONASS in geostationary orbit like NAVSTAR/GPS? This would be a fixed orbital distance from Earth.
You may be thinking of highly-elliptical molniya/lightning orbits (1), which enabled state TV broadcasts for high-lat places in Siberia.
(1) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molniya_orbit
Gps isn't in geostationary orbit. They're in medium earth orbit and complete an orbit about twice a day
If you can easily adjust your orbit, it's easy to see lots of places on the earth, or tweak what time you will be over a part of the earth (eg if you want to look at something whose owners know to hide it when satellites are overhead)
Intended? I don't know, you'd have to ask NASA. Does it have that capability? Sure, if it can deploy arbitrary payloads on destination.
It has carried payloads before but little is known about its missions.