Question

Answer the question:

What is meant by the orbit of a satellite? On what basis and how are the orbits of artificial satellites classified?

Answer 1

 An orbit is a specific path (elliptical or circular) or trajectory around a planet in which a satellite revolves. ​Depending on the height of the satellite’s orbit above the Earth’s surface, the satellite orbits are classified as below:

• High Earth Orbits (Height from the earth’s surface > 35780 km): If the height of the satellite’s orbit above the earth’s surface is greater than or equal to 35780 km, the orbit is called High earth Orbit
• Medium Earth Orbit (Height above the earth’s surface 2000 km to 35780 km): If the height of the satellite orbit above the earth’s surface is in between 2000 km and 35780 km, the orbits are called medium earth orbits.
• Low Earth Orbits (Height above the earth’s surface: 180 km to 2000 km): If the height of the satellite orbit above the earth’s surface is in between 180 km and 2000 km, the orbits are called Low earth Orbits.