geostationary orbit
Sky-fixed satellite path
A geostationary orbit is a circular path around Earth at an altitude where a satellite's orbital period matches Earth's rotation—about 22,236 miles up.
A satellite in geostationary orbit appears motionless relative to a point on the ground, making it ideal for communications and weather monitoring: The dish points at a satellite in geostationary orbit.
Space-based signal forwarding
- broadcastingMass signal transmission
- uplinkTransmission to spacecraft
- downlinkSpacecraft-to-Earth transmission
- transponderSignal-activated transmitter
telecommunications · bandwidth · data transmission · spectrum · C-band · multiplexing · carrier wave · ground station
Spacecraft tracking atmospheric conditions
- meteorologyStudy of atmospheric phenomena
- storm trackingMonitoring severe weather movement
- early warningAlert before event occurs
- military communicationArmed forces information transfer
Inward acceleration on curved paths
- gravitational pullAttractive force between masses
- stable equilibriumSelf-correcting balanced state
- deorbitExit orbital trajectory
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- attitude controlRegulating rotational position
satellite relay
Space-based signal forwarding
- broadcastingMass signal transmission
- uplinkTransmission to spacecraft
- downlinkSpacecraft-to-Earth transmission
transponder · telecommunications · bandwidth · data transmission · spectrum · C-band · multiplexing · carrier wave · ground station
weather satellite
Spacecraft tracking atmospheric conditions
- meteorologyStudy of atmospheric phenomena
- storm trackingMonitoring severe weather movement
- early warningAlert before event occurs
military communication · reconnaissance · remote sensing · climate monitoring
equator
Midpoint circle of rotation
- azimuthHorizontal directional angle
centripetal force
Inward acceleration on curved paths
- gravitational pullAttractive force between masses
- stable equilibriumSelf-correcting balanced state
fuel reserve
- deorbitExit orbital trajectory
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- attitude controlRegulating rotational position
geostationary orbitLEO
Acronym for close orbits
ground-based · terrestrial · lunar orbit · heliocentric orbit
orbit, stationary, orbital, geodesy, geodetic, geocentric, geostationary, geodynamics, geosynchronous