Satellites

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the
temperatures and voltages of the craft's electronic nervous system and
other vital "organs", always critical with machines whose sunward side may
be 300 degress hotter than the shaded part.

Once a satellite achieves orbit--that delicate condition in which the pull
of earth's gravity is matched by the outward fling of the crafts speed--
subtle pressures make it go astray. Solar flares make the satellite go
out of orbit. Wisps of outer atmosphere drag its speed. Like strands of
spiderweb, gravity feilds of the earth, moon, and sun tug at the orbiting
spacefarer. Even the sunshine's soft caress exerts a gentle nudge. Should
a satellite begin to wander, ground crews fire small fuel jets that steer
it back on course. This is done sparingly, for exhaustion of these gases
ends a craft's useful career. Under such stresses, many satellites last 2
years. When death is only a second away, controllers may command the
craft to jump into a high orbit, so it will move up away from ...

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