4 ms·
It's going almost half the speed it did yesterday (1.8km/s vs 3.5km/s). Why is that?
by dagurp 5y ago
It's going almost half the speed it did yesterday (1.8km/s vs 3.5km/s). Why is that?
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- maxnoe 5y agoThe target Orbit is at L2 Lagrange point, the point on the line connecting Earth and sun behind Earth, where gravitational force and centrifugal force are equal and you have a semi stable, force free orbit. From the outside view, the telescope will orbit the sun with the sand period as Earth, so the relative speed will be 0. To avoid the need for strong deceleration, and thus lots of fuel, shocks etc, they use a trajectory where earth gravity will slow down Webb so they arrive just right with 3 minor planned course corrections but no real burn. So you will see the relative velocity drop continuously until wenn arrives at L2.
- atonse 5y agoThis is such a beautiful example of the use of math and physics to achieve something that feels impossible. And (I think) you could potentially calculate this to a reasonable accuracy with 8th grade basic algebra? Or maybe at most basic calculus.
- nikonyrh 5y agoI read that it cannot actually even brake in the case it is going too fast. It only has a major motor pointing towards the Sun!