We know that the satellites, which give us GPS, weather data, and more, are WAY up there in space, orbiting the earth. But did you know that there are dozens of different types of orbits, suited for different satellite missions? This article will provide an overview of the different types of orbits and what they’re all about.
Orbits can be classified by height, eccentricity, or inclination. Here, we’ll talk about some common orbit types in terms of height and inclination.
Low Earth Orbit - LEO
This is the type of orbit that is the closest to the Earth, around 1000 km in height. Due to its close proximity to Earth, LEOs are most commonly used for taking high-resolution images. The International Space Station follows this orbit to make it easier for astronauts to come and go.
Medium Earth Orbit - MEO
Further up at around 20 000 km, this orbit offers a balance between velocity and height. As a consistent and predictable orbit, it is used by Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites.
High Earth Orbit - HEO
High earth orbits are the furthest away, at around 36 000 km in height. The most noteworthy orbit of this type is the geostationary orbit.
Geostationary - GEO
The geostationary orbit is a special type of high earth orbit, in that it stays in the same place relative to the ground. Exactly 35 786 km above the Equator, it is especially handy for monitoring the weather of a single location, as well as communication with the ground.
Polar
Polar orbits travel from North to South, instead of West to East. They are often classified as low earth orbits due to their low altitudes. Satellites in polar orbits are often used for reconnaissance and Earth observation.
Sun synchronous
Sun synchronous orbits are a type of polar orbit that are fixed in the same position relative to the Sun. This means that every day, the satellite passes the same point at the same local time. This is useful for tracking changes over a period of time in certain locations, because imaging or sensing under similar lighting conditions helps make comparisons and analysis as consistent and effective as possible.
Works Cited
Boldt-Christmas, L. (2020). Polar and Sun-synchronous orbit. [online] www.esa.int. Available at: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/03/Polar_and_Sun-synchronous_orbit [Accessed 30 Jan. 2024].
European Space Agency (2020). Low Earth Orbit. [online] www.esa.int. Available at: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/03/Low_Earth_orbit [Accessed 30 Jan. 2024].
Jewett, R. (2021). 2046: Satellite’s Multi-Orbit Future In Sight. [online] Via Satellite. Available at: https://www.satellitetoday.com/content-collection/2046/ [Accessed 30 Jan. 2024].
Riebeek, H. (2009). Catalog of Earth Satellite Orbits. [online] Nasa.gov. Available at: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/OrbitsCatalog.
Space Foundation. (n.d.). Types of Orbits. [online] Available at: https://www.spacefoundation.org/space_brief/types-of-orbits/.
www.esa.int. (n.d.). 4. The polar orbit. [online] Available at: https://www.esa.int/Education/4._The_polar_orbit.
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