Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe cover image

How do space telescopes point themselves?

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

00:00

The Reaction Wheel on a Space Telescope

On a space telescope, this is called a reaction wheel. Essentially, it's a little piece which turns the opposite direction that the spacecraft does. If you don't care what your buddy gets to see, then you can turn in one direction by pushing against him or her. So physics is happy. And you get to point the part that you want in the right direction.

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