What are the three types of orbits of Earth?
What are the three types of orbits of Earth?
The three types of orbits are:
- High earth orbit:
1.1 When a satellite reaches exactly 42,164 kilometers from the center of the Earth (about 36,000 kilometers from Earth’s surface), it enters a sort of “sweet spot” in which its orbit matches Earth’s rotation.
1.2 Because the satellite orbits at the same speed that the Earth is turning, the satellite seems to stay in place over a single longitude, though it may drift north to south. This special, high Earth orbit is called geosynchronous. - Medium earth orbit:
2.1 These orbits pass roughly over the earth’s poles.Closer to the Earth, satellites in a medium Earth orbit move more quickly. Two medium Earth orbits are notable: the semi-synchronous orbit and the Molniya orbit.
2.2 The semi-synchronous orbit is a near-circular orbit (low eccentricity) 26,560 kilometers from the center of the Earth (about 20,200 kilometers above the surface). A satellite at this height takes 12 hours to complete an orbit.
2.3 It is used for imaging, spying, and weather satellites.
3 Low earth orbit::
3.1 Most scientific satellites and many weather satellites are in a nearly circular, low Earth orbit.
3.2 The satellite’s inclination depends on what the satellite was launched to monitor. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite was launched to monitor rainfall in the tropics.
3.3 Therefore, it has a relatively low inclination (35 degrees), staying near the equator.
The three types of orbits are:
- High earth orbit:
1.1 When a satellite reaches exactly 42,164 kilometers from the center of the Earth (about 36,000 kilometers from Earth’s surface), it enters a sort of “sweet spot” in which its orbit matches Earth’s rotation.
1.2 Because the satellite orbits at the same speed that the Earth is turning, the satellite seems to stay in place over a single longitude, though it may drift north to south. This special, high Earth orbit is called geosynchronous. - Medium earth orbit:
2.1 These orbits pass roughly over the earth’s poles.Closer to the Earth, satellites in a medium Earth orbit move more quickly. Two medium Earth orbits are notable: the semi-synchronous orbit and the Molniya orbit.
2.2 The semi-synchronous orbit is a near-circular orbit (low eccentricity) 26,560 kilometers from the center of the Earth (about 20,200 kilometers above the surface). A satellite at this height takes 12 hours to complete an orbit.
2.3 It is used for imaging, spying, and weather satellites.
3 Low earth orbit::
3.1 Most scientific satellites and many weather satellites are in a nearly circular, low Earth orbit.
3.2 The satellite’s inclination depends on what the satellite was launched to monitor. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite was launched to monitor rainfall in the tropics.
3.3 Therefore, it has a relatively low inclination (35 degrees), staying near the equator.
