A geosynchronous orbit is a high Earth orbit that allows satellites to match Earth’s rotation. Located at 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth’s equator, this position is a valuable spot for monitoring weather, communications and surveillance.

Geostationary Orbit Geostationary orbits fall in the same category as geosynchronous orbits, but it’s parked over the equator. While the geostationary orbit lies on the same plane as the equator, the geosynchronous satellites have a different inclination. This is the key difference between the two types of orbits.

A special case of geosynchronous orbit is the geostationary orbit, which is a circular geosynchronous orbit in Earth’s equatorial plane. A satellite in a geostationary orbit remains in the same position in the sky to observers on the surface.

Geostationary orbit, a circular orbit 35,785 km (22,236 miles) above Earth’s Equator in which a satellite’s orbital period is equal to Earth’s rotation period of 23 hours and 56 minutes. A spacecraft in this orbit appears to an observer on Earth to be stationary in the sky.

If the orbit is closer to the planet, the effect of gravity is higher, so the orbiting object must be moving faster to counteract the falling. For a geosynchronous orbit, the orbit has to take 24 hours instead of 90 minutes, because the earth takes 24 hours to spin.

Meteorology. A worldwide network of operational geostationary meteorological satellites is used to provide visible and infrared images of Earth’s surface and atmosphere for weather observation, oceanography, and atmospheric tracking.

Unlike the ISS and the many objects in low Earth object, geostationary satellites are visible all night long every night of the year. They only disappear for up to 70 minutes a day when entering Earth’s shadow about two weeks either side of each equinox.

Satellites in geostationary orbit rotate with the Earth directly above the equator, continuously staying above the same spot. This position allows satellites to observe weather and other phenomena that vary on short timescales.

35 786 km

Description: When a geosynchronous satellite is placed directly above the Equator with a circular orbit and angular velocity identical to that of the Earth, the satellite is known as a geostationary satellite. These satellites appear to be stationary above a particular point which is due to the synchronization.

Our Moon is obviously not in synchronous, or more specifically geosynchronous orbit about the Earth. The period of its orbit around the Earth is not the same as our sidereal day; in fact, it takes the Moon about 27.3 of our days to complete one orbit of our Earth.

The aptly titled geosynchronous orbit is described in detail: “At an altitude of 124 miles (200 kilometers), the required orbital velocity is just over 17,000 mph (about 27,400 kph). To maintain an orbit that is 22,223 miles (35,786 km) above Earth, the satellite must orbit at a speed of about 7,000 mph (11,300 kph).

Where can a geostationary satellite be installed

• Over any city on the equator.
• Over the north or south pole.
• At height R above earth.
• At the surface of earth.

100 km

When in circular motion, a satellite remains the same distance above the surface of the earth; that is, its radius of orbit is fixed. Furthermore, its speed remains constant. Since kinetic energy is dependent upon the speed of an object, the amount of kinetic energy will be constant throughout the satellite’s motion.

No, a geostationary orbit must be in the plane of the Earth’s equator.

Satellites at very high altitudes, which view the same portion of the Earth’s surface at all times have geostationary orbits. These geostationary satellites, at altitudes of approximately 36,000 kilometres, revolve at speeds which match the rotation of the Earth so they seem stationary, relative to the Earth’s surface.

Polar Satellite: Polar satellites revolve around the earth in a north-south direction around the earth as opposed to east-west like the geostationary satellites. They are very useful in applications where the field vision of the entire earth is required in a single day.

The advantages of NGSO systems are the lower latency, smaller size and lower losses in comparison to GEO satellite systems and that when a constellation is shaped a global coverage can be achieved. Now, new systems have been put in operation and are planned which are using NGSO satellites.

For low-altitude satellites, two to three years may be acceptable owing to the action of molecular drag on the body of the satellite. In a geostationary satellite orbit (GSO), there is negligible molecular drag and satellites are designed for a seven-year life, with new-generation satellites aiming for ten years.

The useful lifetime of geosynchronous orbit satellites averages about fifteen years – a limit primarily imposed by the exhaustion of propellant aboard. Low Earth Orbit satellites may have even shorter life spans, due to the increased atmospheric drag and friction to which they are subject.

Two things can happen to old satellites: For the closer satellites, engineers will use its last bit of fuel to slow it down so it will fall out of orbit and burn up in the atmosphere. Further satellites are instead sent even farther away from Earth.

Unlike traditional satellites, Starlinks will have limited lifespans of about five years, Shotwell explained. SpaceX will “refresh the technology” of the Starlink network by rapidly replacing the satellites, which are designed to intentionally burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Satellites don’t fall from the sky because they are orbiting Earth. Even when satellites are thousands of miles away, Earth’s gravity still tugs on them. Gravity–combined with the satellite’s momentum from its launch into space–cause the satellite go into orbit above Earth, instead of falling back down to the ground.