07 / ORBITAL MECHANICS · CAPSTONE
Orbit3D.
One planet. Countless paths. Explore what makes an orbit.
FOUR PERSPECTIVES / ONE ORBIT
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Change one element. Notice what moves.
Free 3D
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Orbit plane
Shape, perigee, and satellite position
Above equator
RAAN and ascending node
Inclination
Orbital-plane tilt
Preparing the scene…
Before you take flight
FIELD NOTESWhat is an orbit?
An orbit is continuous free fall around a body. Gravity bends a satellite's path while its sideways motion carries it around Earth.
Size, shape, and tilt
Semi-major axis sets the size of the orbit. Eccentricity describes its shape. Inclination tilts its plane relative to Earth's equator. Perigee and apogee altitudes are derived measurements.
A simplified view of Earth
This model uses a spherical Earth and one satellite. It leaves out atmospheric drag, the Moon, and Earth's uneven gravity so the fundamental relationships are easier to see.