1475 - Describe the different payload capabilities of polar and geostationary platforms

Describe the different payload capabilities of polar and geostationary platforms

Concepts

  • [PP1-8-2] Equation of the rocket and launch of a satellite: payload determination
    Starting from the standard Rocket Equation - assuming a relative speed of the burned (emitted) fuel equal to 2,4 km/s and zero initial speed - it is possible to evaluate (for a single-stadium rocket) the mass percentage of payload that can be hosted on a platform depending on the final speed expected on the orbit. For instance a 28% payload is possible for a geostationary platform whose expected final speed on the orbit (radius 42.170 km) is 3,7km/s. Instead for a polar platform at about 800km this percentage reduce up to the 4% being the final sped on the orbit expected to be 7,5km/s.