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Does the launching of a satellite need the consideration of the general theory of relativity (GR)?

Bill N
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Ahitagni
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2 Answers2

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Newtonian physics would be sufficient to launch and orbit a satellite. But any equipment, sensors, or experiments on board that required exact timing might need to take into account relativistic time dilations from speed and gravity.

  • But the general theory isn't used right? – Ahitagni Oct 27 '19 at 13:03
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    General relativity is the “gravity” part of this answer. Without corrections from GR, GPS systems wouldn’t function properly. – Bob Knighton Oct 27 '19 at 13:04
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    @Ahitagni GR's effect is approximately $-2$ times SR's effect, so if you neglect GR you get a sign error. – J.G. Oct 28 '19 at 10:46
  • So GR is considered right.... thankyou to all of you....thanks for the help guys... you-all are the best – Ahitagni Oct 28 '19 at 10:48
  • @Ahitagni In general when it comes to physics things aren't considered right so much as useful. It's possible that GR is "wrong", just as Newtonian mechanics is (and Aristotle's physics was before it) but we haven't really got a better model yet. – origimbo Oct 28 '19 at 11:13
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    @origimbo The sentence makes more sense as "So GR is considered, right". The OP omitted the comma in the first comment, too. – user126527 Oct 28 '19 at 12:09
  • @BobKnighton They would just add on an extra factor and not understand why it's there, but they would make it work. – user253751 Oct 28 '19 at 16:58
  • @user253751 I'm not quite sure I understand your comment. – Bob Knighton Oct 29 '19 at 09:28
  • GPS would still work if humans didn't know about relativity. – user253751 Oct 29 '19 at 11:31
  • @user253751 yes but we would wonder why we had to keep resetting the clocks – Adrian Howard Oct 29 '19 at 12:26
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No. Newtonian gravity is sufficient.

Dale
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