Dark Sky Stations, Stratospheric Satellites, and Ultra Low Orbit Infrastructure

Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur

Isaac Arthur

Technology, Energy Abundance, Future Of Humanity, Spacecraft, Genetics, Space Infrastructure, Scifi, Post Scarcity, Sci Fi, Technological Future, Interstellar Travel, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Space Station, Space, Long Term Future, Human Civilizaiton, Civilizaiton, Cybernetics, Science, Futurism, Space Megastructures, Space Colonization, Space Industry, Future Philosophy, Transhumanism, Spaceship, Megastructures, Physics, Starship, Astronomy, Future

4.9 • 782 Ratings

🗓️ 26 May 2022

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Many don't realize that most of our satellites and space stations aren't intended to be far from Earth, but rather, as close as we can get them and still maintain a stable orbit. How much lower can we go in the future? Start Forging New Worlds: https://www.worldanvil.com/isaac-arthur International Space Development Conference Registration: https://isdc2022.nss.org Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur Support us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthur Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content. SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShE Credits: Dark Sky Stations, Stratospheric Satellites, and Ultra Low Orbit Infrastructure Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur Episode 344, May 26, 2022 Written, Produced & Narrated by Isaac Arthur Editors: David McFarlane Cover Art: Jakub Grygier https://www.artstation.com/jakub_grygier Graphics: Ervin Oprea Fishy Tree Jarred Eagley Jeremy Jozwik https://www.artstation.com/zeuxis_of_losdiajana Katie Byrne Ken York https://www.facebook.com/YDVisual/ Sam McNamara of Rapid Thrash Sergio Botero https://www.artstation.com/sboterod?fref=gc Stephen Huck Udo Schroeter Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, SFIA audio listeners. In this month's Nebula exclusive, big alien theory,
0:05.2	we're asking the reason alien civilizations might be rare is because most aliens are huge.
0:10.5	To hear it and every episode early and ad-free, plus hours of bonus content,
0:15.1	check out go.nebola.tv slash Isaac Arthur and use my code, Isaac Arthur.
0:20.1	This episode is brought to you by World Anvil.
0:23.7	It takes a lot of energy, precision, and effort to hang a satellite in orbit above our atmosphere,
0:30.8	but it takes even more to hang one inside our atmosphere.
0:36.8	The inside our atmosphere.
0:42.0	So today we'll be looking at placing satellites and even non-moving objects in ultra-low orbits,
0:48.2	or even beneath the carbon line, the edge of outer space and the main atmosphere, and to
0:53.4	do that we need to start by explaining
0:55.1	why we don't now and why we want to.
0:58.3	Many folks mistakenly believe there is no gravity on the space station because it's way
1:02.3	out in space, an enormous distance from Earth.
1:06.0	In reality, the ISS and most of our satellites are as close to Earth as we can possibly put them
1:11.8	before atmospheric drag slows them down too much for them to remain in orbit.
1:17.1	Gravity is an inverse square force, meaning it's proportional to the square of the distance
1:20.9	from the center of the planet, and the ISS is only 254 miles or so up, just 6% farther
1:27.1	from the Earth's center than you are. So the gravity there is only 254 miles or so up, just 6% farther from the Earth's center than you are.
1:29.2	So the gravity there is only 13% weaker than what's holding you down right now.
1:34.7	So if the ISS is at .87G, why does it fall?
1:39.0	Well it is falling, but as Isaac Newton famously illustrated, if you travel fast enough over
	...

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