// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Right Ascension
One of the two coordinates used in the equatorial coordinate system to locate objects in the sky, similar to longitude on Earth.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Right Ascension (RA) is an angular coordinate in the equatorial coordinate system, analogous to terrestrial longitude, measuring the eastward angle along the celestial equator from the vernal equinox to the hour circle passing through a celestial object, crucial for celestial navigation and telescope pointing.
BACKGROUND
AirTanker Services Limited, incorporated in England and Wales on 14 June 2007 with the company registration number 06279646, is a private limited company in the United Kingdom (UK), which operates a British airline known as AirTanker, and is also an aircraft leasing and operating company.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Celestial longitude
- RA
- alpha
USAGE NOTE
Astronomers use right ascension and declination to precisely pinpoint the location of stars and galaxies.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Right Ascension.
NASA utilizes Right Ascension for precise spacecraft navigation, mission planning, deep space communication, and the pointing of space telescopes (e.g., Hubble, JWST) to specific celestial objects.
ESA employs Right Ascension in its various space missions for satellite navigation, astronomical observation, and Earth observation missions, ensuring accurate positioning and targeting of celestial bodies and ground-based targets.
Managed by Caltech for NASA, JPL leads deep space exploration missions, developing and implementing sophisticated autonomous navigation and guidance systems that rely heavily on celestial coordinates like Right Ascension for precise trajectory control and target acquisition.
As an operator of large satellite constellations (Starlink) and a developer of launch vehicles, SpaceX uses Right Ascension for critical tasks such as precise orbital insertion, satellite placement, and collision avoidance within Earth's orbit.
A major aerospace manufacturer, Lockheed Martin develops and builds advanced satellites and space systems for communication, navigation, and reconnaissance, all of which require highly accurate pointing, orbital mechanics, and space situational awareness that utilize celestial coordinate systems.
LeoLabs specializes in space situational awareness, tracking space debris and satellites in Low Earth Orbit. Their radar systems generate data that is used to precisely determine orbital parameters, often referenced back to celestial coordinates including Right Ascension, for accurate tracking and prediction.
Responsible for space domain awareness, the US Space Command tracks objects in orbit and protects US space assets. This mission requires a robust understanding and application of celestial mechanics and coordinates like Right Ascension to predict trajectories, identify objects, and maintain a comprehensive space catalog.
This non-profit corporation provides objective technical expertise and R&D for space systems. They conduct extensive research in advanced navigation, space situational awareness, and orbital mechanics, which fundamentally involve the use of celestial coordinate systems like Right Ascension.