As the satellites are following roughly circular orbits, would not any time dilation be averaged out to nothing over time, instead of incrementing a larger positive/negative value? If a satellite, over the course of it's orbit, has a segment where it's moving away from an earth based observer at a fast enough speed to incur relatavistic effects, would not that effect be zeroed out by a corresponding segment of the orbit when it is moving back towards the earth based observer at the same relatavistic speed? What part of orbital mechanics/relativity even allows for the incrementing of a positive/negative time value for a circular orbit?
Psychocumbandit t1_ja1kkra wrote
Reply to How old is the ISS REALLY? by gwplayer1
As the satellites are following roughly circular orbits, would not any time dilation be averaged out to nothing over time, instead of incrementing a larger positive/negative value? If a satellite, over the course of it's orbit, has a segment where it's moving away from an earth based observer at a fast enough speed to incur relatavistic effects, would not that effect be zeroed out by a corresponding segment of the orbit when it is moving back towards the earth based observer at the same relatavistic speed? What part of orbital mechanics/relativity even allows for the incrementing of a positive/negative time value for a circular orbit?