8.11 Satellites Page
Natural Satellite The Moon
Artificial Satellites Help forecast weather Monitor agriculture Telecommunication Navigation Military Activities Explore the Universe
International Space Station Orbits at an altitude of 350 km above the Earth.
Continuous Earth Orbit A satellite travels at sufficient velocity so that when Earth’s gravity pulls it down, it continuously falls around Earth’s curvature.
Types of Orbits Low Earth Orbit Satellites (up to 2000 km)
Polar Orbit Required to see every part of the planet. Altitude km Example: RADARSTAT for natural and human- made events
Medium Earth Orbit Satellites Altitudes up to km 12 make up the GPS 3 satellites must be visible at any one time from any point on the ground
Geostationary Orbit Satellites Altitude of km One orbital period equals one rotation of Earth. Appear motionless in the sky Examples: communication and weather satellites
Geostationary Satellites 1/10 the way to the moon
Comparing Satellites Orbital Period Altitude Radius of Orbit Orbital Speed