Satellites and Their Orbits
Satellites play a huge role in the lives of most people. Satellites are used everyday for phones, computers, TVs, predicting weather, and GPS systems. Here are some types of satellites:
Imaging Satellite-take pictures of Earth’s surface to be used by the military, when taken by spy satellites; or for scientific purposes, such as meteorology, if taken by weather satellites. Astronomers use imaging satellites to study the Moon and other planets
Communication Satellite- receive and send signals for telephone, television, or other types of communications
Navigation Satellite-used for navigation systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS).
International Space Station (ISS)-the largest artificial satellite is designed for humans to live in space while conducting scientific research.
The speed of these satellites depends on how high they are orbiting. Orbits that are close to earth are called Low Earth Orbits (LEO.) The satellites that are in this orbit usually have polar orbits over the North and South poles perpendicular to earth's orbit. Imagery satellites are often in LEOs. A satellite that is placed at just the right distance above earth, 35,786 km (22,240 miles) orbits at the same rate as earth. This orbit is known as a geostationary orbit. Communication satellites are usually found in this range. The last orbit is the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). This orbit, as you probably guessed is the orbit between the GEO and LEO. It's altitude is about 20,200 km (12,552 miles.) Navigation satellites are found in this orbit.
Imaging Satellite-take pictures of Earth’s surface to be used by the military, when taken by spy satellites; or for scientific purposes, such as meteorology, if taken by weather satellites. Astronomers use imaging satellites to study the Moon and other planets
Communication Satellite- receive and send signals for telephone, television, or other types of communications
Navigation Satellite-used for navigation systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS).
International Space Station (ISS)-the largest artificial satellite is designed for humans to live in space while conducting scientific research.
The speed of these satellites depends on how high they are orbiting. Orbits that are close to earth are called Low Earth Orbits (LEO.) The satellites that are in this orbit usually have polar orbits over the North and South poles perpendicular to earth's orbit. Imagery satellites are often in LEOs. A satellite that is placed at just the right distance above earth, 35,786 km (22,240 miles) orbits at the same rate as earth. This orbit is known as a geostationary orbit. Communication satellites are usually found in this range. The last orbit is the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). This orbit, as you probably guessed is the orbit between the GEO and LEO. It's altitude is about 20,200 km (12,552 miles.) Navigation satellites are found in this orbit.