satellite orbits
Celestial circling routes
Satellite orbits are the curved paths that satellites follow around larger bodies like Earth.
The orbit's shape and altitude determine the satellite's behavior—low Earth orbit for the International Space Station, geostationary orbit for communications satellites that appear fixed in the sky.
The company launched dozens of satellites into low satellite orbits.
The physics of satellite orbits governs everything from GPS timing to television broadcasts.
- geostationaryFixed above one point
- telecommunicationsRemote signal transmission technology
- payload capacityMaximum transportable weight
- mission controlEarth-based space operations hub
- apogeeHighest orbital point
eccentricity · polar · GPS navigation · delta-v · propulsion systems · elliptical · perigee · thermal control · weather monitoring · inclination · space exploration · military reconnaissance · scientific research · escape velocity · rocket launch · broadcasting · fuel efficiency · Hohmann transfer
- gravitygravity, graviton, gravity well, gravitational pull, gravity wave
- orbital mechanicseccentricity, inclination, apogee, perigee, epoch
- stellar motiontrajectory, angular momentum, retrograde motion, precession, nutation
satellite orbitsreentry
Coming back in
deorbit · splashdown · touchdown · crash landings · controlled descent
satellite orbitsground stations
Land-based signal receivers
satellite, satellites, orbit, orbits, orbital, orbitals, orbiting, orbited, orbiter