Trying to use both systems would waste time and risk dangerous errors. It becomes very complicated to use any standard derived unit such as Newton Force expressed by miles and pounds. Further, 1 cubic decimeter equals 1 liter of water weighing 1kg which can also come in quite handy in everyday life.
There is a good reason to stick to metric when discussing scientific matters. The distance to Mars varies because the Earth and Mars are both orbiting the sun, but not at the same speed or the same distance from the sun. Sometimes we are on the opposite side of the sun from Mars, and the sun is therefore closer to us than Mars is. If the earth is on one side of the sun and mars is on the other side, then the distance from the earth to mars is greater than from the earth to the sun.
Seems pretty straight forward. All electromagnetic radiation travels at the speed of light. Gladson is wrong. Both earth and mars are in orbit around the sun. We make the trip in earth days. Mars requires earth days. Mars mean orbital radius to the sun is 1.
Round trip radio time depends on where earth and mars are relative to the sun. It varies, because Earth and Mars orbit the sun at different speeds. Sometimes they are on the same side of the sun and, at closest approach, light only takes about 3 minutes to travel between the two. Sometimes they are on opposite sides of the sun and it takes up to about 22 minutes. As to the other responses, the difference between speed of light and radio waves is negligible over these short distances.
Depends on the positionsame of earth and Mars. If we are on the same side of sun we are closer. If the planets are on opposite sides of sun. The sun is closer.
The sun distance from Earth is relatively constant. Mars is not. Varges, we are not necessarily the same side of the sun at the same time — so the longest time is for when Earth and Mars are degrees opposite each other and both at aphelion, and the shortest would be when we are both the same side, with Mars at perihelion and Earth at aphelion.
Now you are making sense, but at that point how much longer will it take the suns light to reach mars? The orbiters then use their much larger antennas and transmitters to relay that data on the long-distance link back to Earth. The X-Band High-Gain Antenna The high-gain antenna is steerable so it can point its radio beam in a specific direction. The benefit of having a steerable antenna is that the entire rover doesn't need to change position to talk to Earth, which is always moving in the Martian sky.
Like turning your neck to talk to someone beside you rather than turning your entire body, the rover can save energy and keep things simple by moving only the antenna. How is lag dealt with? Why does the data transfer rate have to drop with distance? What kind of data is DS1 sending back? How do the instruments and sensors coordinate sending signals? Of course, the problem with the previous calculations is that they measure distance between the two planets as a straight line.
Traveling through the farthest passing of Earth and Mars would involve a trip directly through the sun, while spacecraft must of necessity move in orbit around the solar system's star. Although this isn't a problem for the closest approach, when the planets are on the same side of the sun, another problem exists.
The numbers also assume that the two planets remain at a constant distance; that is, when a probe is launched from Earth while the two planets are at the closest approach, Mars would remain the same distance away over the course of the 39 days it took the probe to travel.
In reality, however, the planets are continuously moving in their orbits around the sun. Engineers must calculate the ideal orbits for sending a spacecraft from Earth to Mars.
Their numbers factor in not only distance but also fuel efficiency. Like throwing a dart at a moving target, they must calculate where the planet will be when the spacecraft arrives, not where it is when it leaves Earth.
Spaceships must also decelerate to enter orbit around a new planet to avoid overshooting it. How long it takes to reach Mars depends on where in their orbits the two planets lie when a mission is launched. It also depends on the technological developments of propulsion systems. The website quotes physics professor Craig C.
Patten , of the University of California, San Diego:.
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