Published: July 21, 2025 by: Rungruang Huanraluek
What Are Satellite Orbits?
Satellites can orbit the Earth at various altitudes depending on their missions, including communication, observation, weather forecasting, navigation and positioning, military and security, scientific research, and more. Satellite orbits are classified by their altitude above Earth and orbital characteristics. We can divide satellite orbits into four main types as follows:
1. Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
LEO orbits range approximately from 160 to 2,000 km above Earth. They are used for Earth observation satellites, reconnaissance satellites, imaging cameras, and internet satellites (such as Starlink). Their key features include low latency, fast movement, and coverage of smaller areas.
2. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
MEO orbits range approximately from 2,000 to 35,786 km above Earth. They are used for GPS, Glonass, and Galileo navigation systems. Their advantages include broader coverage than LEO and are used for navigation and some communication purposes.
3. Geostationary Orbit (GEO) / Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO)
GEO orbits are approximately 35,786 km above Earth. They are used for communication satellites, television satellites, and weather satellites. Their key feature is that they appear stationary over a fixed point on Earth, enabling continuous communication with the same ground area. Geostationary (GEO) means the satellite orbits above the equator and appears stationary, while Geosynchronous (GSO) means the orbit period is one day but may slightly incline north or south.
4. Elliptical Orbit
Elliptical orbits are elongated orbits with a perigee (closest point to Earth) and apogee (farthest point). They are used for radio signal detection satellites and scientific satellites. Their advantage is the ability to cover specific areas longer than circular orbits, such as the Molniya orbit used in Russia.
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