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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?
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Solution
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.
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