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General Discussion => Q&A Section => Topic started by: TomH on 03/22/2018 11:32 pm

Title: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: TomH on 03/22/2018 11:32 pm
Do the prepositions make any difference in the technical meanings of the terms, or do they mean the same thing?
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: IanThePineapple on 03/22/2018 11:34 pm
Do the prepositions make any difference in the technical meanings of the terms, or do they mean the same thing?

IIRC, IN orbit means you're orbiting something. ON orbit refers to where something takes place.

For example, "The ISS is in orbit, and an astronaut is about to do a spacewalk on orbit."
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: Rocket Science on 03/23/2018 12:30 am
I interpret on orbit as being on an orbital plane....
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-orbit-58.html
http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/space-environment/2-whats-orbital-plane.html

In orbit is the balance of forces due to the fact that the object has sufficient velocity and continues to fall around the planet due to it's angular momentum...
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/orbit_feature_5-8.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TutUYv_A3E8
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: Jim on 03/23/2018 03:41 pm
Do the prepositions make any difference in the technical meanings of the terms, or do they mean the same thing?

IIRC, IN orbit means you're orbiting something. ON orbit refers to where something takes place.

For example, "The ISS is in orbit, and an astronaut is about to do a spacewalk on orbit."

that's it
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: Johnnyhinbos on 03/23/2018 05:34 pm
What about when the ISS does a boost?
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: PahTo on 03/23/2018 05:38 pm
What about when the ISS does a boost?

ISS in orbit does a burn (boost) on orbit.

or

In orbit, ISS does an on orbit burn (boost).
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: QuantumG on 03/24/2018 01:58 am
I heard recently that going ‘to’ the moon is very different than going ‘on’ the moon.

If true, it says something bad in a historical context.

Looking at stars...
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: TomH on 03/28/2018 12:23 am
So an Apollo CSM would transposition and dock with the LM while on trans-lunar coast?
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: Jim on 03/28/2018 01:44 am
So an Apollo CSM would transposition and dock with the LM while on trans-lunar coast?

during
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: Hog on 03/28/2018 02:14 pm
So an Apollo CSM would transposition and dock with the LM during the trans-lunar coast phase while on a Lunar Transfer Orbit?

IIRC the TLI(trans Lunar Injection) portion refers only to the propulsive portion which causes a delta in trajectory?
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: Jim on 03/28/2018 06:16 pm
So an Apollo CSM would transposition and dock with the LM during the trans-lunar coast phase while on a Lunar Transfer Orbit?

IIRC the TLI(trans Lunar Injection) portion refers only to the propulsive portion which causes a delta in trajectory?

an Apollo CSM would transposition and dock with the LM during the trans-lunar coast phase of a Lunar Transfer Orbit?
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: Lar on 03/28/2018 06:59 pm
ZOMG Jim used a question mark in one of his posts. That has to be a typo.

Is it just me or is this thread kinda not very high value add any more, with the question answered?
Title: Re: "In Orbit" vs. "On Orbit" Any Difference in Meaning? Q&A
Post by: Jim on 03/28/2018 07:17 pm
ZOMG Jim used a question mark in one of his posts. That has to be a typo.


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