Geostationary Satellites

Introduction:
Geostationary satellites are satellites that orbit the Earth at the same rotational speed as the Earth itself, resulting in the satellite appearing to remain stationary in the sky from a fixed location on the Earth's surface. They are commonly used for communication applications such as TV broadcasting, internet connectivity, and telecommunication services. To put geostationary satellites into their designated orbits, rockets are required. The question asks about the power of the rockets needed to achieve this.

The Correct Answer:
The correct answer is option 'B', which states that geostationary satellites need more powerful rockets to put them into larger distance orbits. This is because geostationary satellites are placed in a specific orbit called the geostationary orbit, which is located at an altitude of approximately 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) above the Earth's equator. Achieving this higher altitude requires more energy and a more powerful rocket compared to placing satellites in smaller distance orbits.

Explanation:
Let's explore why geostationary satellites require more powerful rockets to be placed in larger distance orbits:

1. Escape Velocity:
To overcome the Earth's gravitational pull and reach the desired orbit, a rocket needs to achieve a certain velocity called the escape velocity. The escape velocity increases with the distance from the Earth's surface. As geostationary satellites are placed at a larger distance from the Earth, the escape velocity required to reach that orbit is higher, necessitating the use of more powerful rockets.

2. Energy Requirement:
The amount of energy required to place a satellite into orbit is directly proportional to the mass of the satellite and the gravitational potential energy at that altitude. As geostationary satellites are usually larger and heavier due to the equipment they carry for communication purposes, more energy is required to lift them to the higher altitude of the geostationary orbit. Thus, more powerful rockets are needed to generate the necessary thrust and achieve this higher energy requirement.

3. Orbital Mechanics:
To reach the geostationary orbit, the satellite needs to be launched into a transfer orbit first. This transfer orbit is typically an elliptical orbit that intersects with the geostationary orbit. In order to efficiently transfer from the initial orbit to the geostationary orbit, a higher velocity is required at the lower point of the transfer orbit. This higher velocity can be achieved by using more powerful rockets.

Conclusion:
To place geostationary satellites into larger distance orbits, which is specifically the geostationary orbit at an altitude of 35,786 kilometers, more powerful rockets are needed. This is due to the higher escape velocity required, the greater energy requirement to lift heavier satellites, and the need for higher velocities in transfer orbits.