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 earth, ...

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