Question

What is meant by the orbit of a satellite? On what basis and how are the orbits of artificial satellites classified?

Answer 1

An orbit is a specific path (elliptical of circular) or trajectory around a planet in which a satellite revolves. Depending on the height of the satellite's orbit above the Earth's surface, the satellite orbits are classified as below:

$\bullet$ High Earth Orbits (Height from the earth's surface $>35780km$): If the height of the satellite's orbit above the earth's surface is greater than or equal to $35780km$, the orbit is called High earth Orbit

$\bullet$ Medium Earth Orbit (Height above the earth's surface $2000km$ to $35780km$): If the height of the satellite orbit above the earth surface is in between $200km$ and $35780km$, the orbits are called medium earth orbits.

$\bullet$ Low Earth Orbits (Height above the earth's surface: $180km$ to $2000km$): If the height of the satellite orbit above the earth's surface is in between $180km$ and $2000km$, the orbit are called Low earth Orbits.