Talk:Vanguard 2

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A fact from this article was featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the On this day section on February 17, 2005, February 17, 2006, and February 17, 2007.

pictures

Any published examples of the output from the optical scanners? 147.145.40.43 21:27, 17 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Atmospheric drag speeds up spacecraft

Atmospheric drag does not cause spacecraft to "lag" expected positions (as stated), rather they lead, as they lose altitude and orbit faster. I do not have a reference for this specific to Vanguard 2, but the principle is universally known to astro-dynamicists and physicists. The Wikipedia articles on orbits and orbital mechanics must explain it.

On a very short time scale (much less than one orbit), the spacecraft is indeed slowed, but is immediately shifted into a slightly lower orbit, quickly causing it to speed up. As a result, it moved progressively ahead of its expected, unperturbed. orbital positions, both in angle and in distance. Wwheaton (talk) 01:40, 17 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]