Editing Areosynchronous orbit

The '''areosynchronous orbits''' ('''ASO''') are the [[synchronous orbit]]s for [[artificial satellite]]s around the planet [[Mars]]. They are the martian equivalent of the [[geosynchronous orbit]]s (GSO) on the [[Earth]]. The prefix ''areo-'' derives from [[Ares]], the ancient [[Greek mythology|Greek god]] of war and counterpart to the [[Roman mythology|Roman god]] [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]], with whom the planet was identified. The [[modern Greek]] word for Mars is ''Άρης'' (Áris).

As with all synchronous orbits, an areosynchronous orbit has an [[orbital period]] equal in length to the primary's [[sidereal day]].  A satellite in areosynchronous orbit does ''not'' necessarily maintain a fixed position in the sky as seen by an observer on the surface of Mars; however, such a satellite will return to the same apparent position every Martian day.

The [[Orbital elements|orbital altitude]] required to maintain an areosynchronous orbit is approximately {{convert|17000|km}}.  If a satellite in areosynchronous orbit were to be used as a [[Communication link|communication relay link]], it "would experience communications ranges of {{convert|17000|to|20000|km}}" to various points on the visible Martian surface.<ref name=jpl20011115>
{{cite journal |last=Lay |first=N. |author2=C. Cheetum |author3=H. Mojaradi |author4=J. Neal |title=Developing Low-Power Transceiver Technologies for In Situ Communication Applications |journal=IPN Progress Report 42-147 |date=15 November 2001 |volume=42 |issue=147 |pages=22 |bibcode=2001IPNPR.147A...1L |url=http://www.cwc.oulu.fi/~carlos/WSNPapers/LA01.pdf |access-date=2012-02-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001744/http://www.cwc.oulu.fi/~carlos/WSNPapers/LA01.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>

An areosynchronous orbit that is equatorial (in the same plane as the [[equator]] of Mars), circular, and [[Retrograde motion|prograde]] (rotating about Mars's axis in the same direction as the planet's surface) is known as an [[areostationary orbit]] (AEO).  To an observer on the surface of Mars, the position of a satellite in AEO would appear to be fixed in a constant position in the sky.  The AEO is analogous to a [[geostationary orbit]] (GEO) about Earth.

Although no satellites currently occupy areosynchronous or areostationary orbits, some scientists foresee a future [[telecommunications network]] for the exploration of Mars.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Badi |first1=Deborah |last2=Farmer |first2=Jeffery |last3=Martin |first3=Gary |last4=Garn |first4=Paul |title=Conceptual design of a communications system for Mars exploration missions |journal=27th Aerospace Sciences Meeting |date=9 January 1989 |volume=AIAA 89-0516 |doi=10.2514/6.1989-516 |bibcode=1989aiaa.meetQR...B |url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.1989-516|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Areostationary orbit]]
*[[Geosynchronous orbit]]
*[[List of orbits]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071201030611/http://marsnet.jpl.nasa.gov/elements/marsats.html Mars Network - Marsats] - NASA site devoted to future communications infrastructure for Mars exploration

{{orbits}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Areosynchronous Orbit}}
[[Category:Mars orbits]]