Vocabulary Word
Word: perigee
Definition: point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee
Definition: point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee
Sentences Containing 'perigee'
Shortly after launch it was in an orbit with a perigee of , an apogee of and 97.9 degrees of inclination, typical for an operational KH-11 satellite.
Spacecraft with a perigee below about are subject to drag from the Earth's atmosphere, which will cause the orbital altitude to decrease.
On 5 March 1993, USA-88 was in an orbit with a perigee of , an apogee of , a period of 717.9 minutes, and 54.8 degrees of inclination to the equator.
As of 24 July 2011, USA-232 was in an orbit with a perigee of , an apogee of , a period of 729.16 minutes, and 55.0 degrees of inclination to the equator.
To prevent the Shuttle from following the external tank back into the lower atmosphere, the Orbital maneuvering system (OMS) engines were fired to raise the perigee higher into the upper atmosphere.
The vehicle began re-entry by firing the Orbital maneuvering system engines, while flying upside down, backside first, in the opposite direction to orbital motion for approximately three minutes, which reduced the Shuttle's velocity by about . The resultant slowing of the Shuttle lowered its orbital perigee down into the upper atmosphere.
By 8 October 1984, USA-5 had been raised to an orbit with a perigee of , an apogee of , a period of 717.98 minutes, and 63.2 degrees of inclination to the equator.