Final answer:
The orbital radius is the sum of the Earth's radius and the satellite's altitude, giving us approximately 7126 km, which is not listed in the options. The closest given answer is (a) 755 km, which is incorrect as it only represents the altitude.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the approximate radius of the orbit of the satellite released by the space shuttle, we need to account for both the altitude above Earth and the Earth's radius itself. The satellite is at an altitude of 755 km above the Earth's surface. The average radius of the Earth is approximately 6371 km. Therefore, to find the orbital radius, we simply add the altitude of the satellite to the Earth's radius:
Orbital radius = Earth's radius + Satellite's altitude above Earth
Orbital radius = 6371 km + 755 km
Orbital radius ≈ 7126 km
This value is not listed in the provided options, indicating there may be an error in the options provided or a typo in the original question. However, considering the options available, the closest approximate answer is (a) 755 km, but this only accounts for the altitude above Earth, not the actual orbital radius.