nukkxx5058
Posts: 2932
Joined: 2/3/2005 From: France Status: offline
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OK. I just learned something. I didn't realize that geostationary satellites were flying that high. So does it explain the jumping contact issue ? quote:
Altitude classifications for geocentric orbits Low Earth orbit (LEO): geocentric orbits with altitudes below 2,000 km (1,200 mi).[3] Medium Earth orbit (MEO): geocentric orbits ranging in altitude from 2,000 km (1,200 mi) to just below geosynchronous orbit at 35,786 kilometers (22,236 mi). Also known as an intermediate circular orbit. These are used for Global Navigation Satellite System spacecraft, such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou. GPS satellites orbits at the height of 20,200 kilometers (12,600 mi) with an orbital period of almost 12 hours.[4] Geosynchronous orbit (GSO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) are orbits around Earth matching Earth's sidereal rotation period. Although terms are often used interchangeably, technically a geosynchronous orbit matches the Earth's rotational period, but the definition does not require it to have zero orbital inclination to the equator, and thus is not stationary above a given point on the equator, but may oscillate north and south during the course of a day. Thus, a geostationary orbit is defined as a geosynchronous orbit at zero inclination. Geosynchronous (and geostationary) orbits have a semi-major axis of 42,164 km (26,199 mi).[5] This works out to an altitude of 35,786 km (22,236 mi). Both complete one full orbit of Earth per sidereal day (relative to the stars, not the Sun).
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