Satellite Meteorology

For Grade 7-12

2

Weather Satellites and Orbits

Math and Physics Behind Satellite Technology

Newton's Laws of Gravity

Newton was able to express the gravitational force between a pair of objects in the form of a single equation:

F = G m1 m2 / r2

where the symbol represent:

F = gravitational force
m1 = mass of the first object
m2 = mass of the second object
r = distance between the centers of the objects
G = "universal constant of gravitation"

Using this equation and knowing the mass of the earth and the mass of GOES satellites, scientists launch GOES satellites to an elevation that locks them into a permanent orbit over the same location of the earth indefinitely.

This Satellite Meteorology Course was developed at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) located within the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) at the UW-Madison. Funding was provided by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) and NOAA/NESDIS.