Radar Altimeters


In the context of aerospace engineering, radar altimeters, also known as radio altimeters, are electronic devices used on aircraft to measure the altitude above the ground level during the flight. They work by emitting radio waves downwards and then measuring the time it takes for the signal to bounce back after hitting the ground surface. The speed of the radio wave is known, so the time it takes to return can be used to calculate the distance travelled, and hence the altitude of the aircraft. Radar altimeters are crucial for safe landing procedures, especially in poor visibility conditions, as they provide accurate altitude readings close to the ground. They are also used in terrain-following radar allowing aircraft to fly at a constant altitude above the ground level. In space exploration, radar altimeters are used in spacecraft for determining the altitude above the planetary surfaces.


Your Previous Searches
Random Picks

  • Inertial Sensor: In the context of aerospace engineering, an inertial sensor, also known as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), is a device that measures and reports a spacecraft's velocity, orientation, and gravitational forces, using a combination of acce ... Read More >>
  • Disposal Facility: A Disposal Facility is a specialized facility designed for the safe and secure disposal of waste generated during space missions. The waste generated during space missions can be in the form of human waste, food waste, biomedical waste, and ... Read More >>
  • Transmission Control Protocol: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a communication protocol that operates at the transport layer of the Internet protocol suite. It provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data between applications running on hosts com ... Read More >>
Top News

Archaeologists discover 4,000-year-old canals used to fish by predecessors of an...

Using drones and Google Earth imagery, archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals in what’s now Belize...

News Source: ABC News on 2024-11-22

First close-up image of a star beyond our galaxy may reveal impending supernova...

Astronomers have taken the first close-up image of a star beyond our galaxy, and it’s a “monster star” surrounded by a cocoon as it slowly dies....

News Source: CNN on 2024-11-21

Bestselling author explains the science of happiness: "You can do the work"...

Bestselling author and Harvard professor Arthur Brooks opens up about how enjoyment, satisfaction and meaning in life can increase a person's wellbeing....

News Source: CBS News on 2024-11-18

November's full moon, known as the Beaver Moon, is the last supermoon of 2024. H...

November's full moon, known as the Beaver Moon, is the last supermoon of 2024. Here's when it peaks and why it's called the Beaver Moon....

News Source: CBS News on 2024-11-15

You can't put a price on the sense of awe particle physics inspires...

Astronomy and particle physics are no longer seen as vital by the US establishment, so funding has fallen. But our work creates a sense of wonder, and wonder matters, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein...

News Source: New Scientist on 2024-11-13