RadioBanter - View Single Post - No antennae radiate all the power fed to them!

rickman · November 3rd 14, 12:06 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna

On 11/2/2014 6:31 PM, wrote:
On Sunday, November 2, 2014 4:31:36 PM UTC-6, Jerry Stuckle wrote:

But if it keeps one direction pointed towards Earth, then it has to roll
- one rotation per orbit. Which means the solar panels have to be
steerable to some extent for maximum power.

I'd have to watch a few full passes to see.. They have multiple
cameras aimed in different directions, so I'm not sure if they
actually roll once an orbit or not. For some reason, I'm thinking
they don't.. Mainly because I don't recall the shuttle as rolling
during orbits. They always flew upside down and maybe even backwards
in orbit, with the cargo bays aimed at the planet. I think anyway..
I'd have to look into that more. Some cameras seem to aim forward,
and some backwards like you are watching out the back of an old nine
passenger station wagon. :|

If the shuttle always faced the cargo bays toward the earth that means
they had to turn once per orbit. Same reason why the solar day is not
the same length as the sidereal day.

--

Rick