Types of Orbits

Here’s a breakdown of the main types of orbits, categorized by altitude, shape, and purpose. Each orbit serves a specific function in satellite and space mission design:

🛰️ By Altitude (Distance from Earth)

🟢 1. Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

• Altitude: 160 to 2,000 km (100–1,200 miles)

• Use: Earth observation, the ISS, communication satellites

• Orbit Time: ~90 minutes

• Key Feature: Fast orbit, ideal for imaging and monitoring

🟠 2. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)

• Altitude: 2,000 to 35,786 km

• Use: GPS, navigation systems

• Orbit Time: ~12 hours

• Key Feature: Balanced coverage and speed

🔵 3. Geostationary Orbit (GEO)

• Altitude: 35,786 km (22,236 miles)

• Use: Weather, TV, communication satellites

• Orbit Time: 24 hours

• Key Feature: Appears stationary over one point on Earth

🌀 By Shape

🌓 4. Circular Orbit

• Shape: Constant altitude and speed

• Use: Many communication and scientific satellites

• Key Feature: Uniform coverage and stable conditions

🌙 5. Elliptical Orbit

• Shape: Varying altitude (apogee = farthest, perigee = closest)

• Use: Molniya orbits, some science missions

• Key Feature: High coverage of one hemisphere during apogee

📍 By Inclination / Purpose

🌍 6. Polar Orbit

• Path: Passes over Earth’s poles

• Use: Earth observation, weather, mapping

• Key Feature: Global coverage as Earth rotates beneath

🔁 7. Sun-Synchronous Orbit

• Path: A type of polar orbit that stays aligned with the sun

• Use: Satellites that need consistent lighting (e.g., imaging)

• Key Feature: Same local solar time on every pass

🛰️ 8. Geosynchronous Orbit

• Path: Same period as Earth’s rotation, but not necessarily equatorial

• Use: Communication satellites

• Key Feature: Same location in the sky each day (not fixed over one point)

🌕 Other Specialized Orbits

🌗 9. Molniya Orbit

• Path: Highly elliptical, high inclination

• Use: Coverage of high latitudes (e.g., Russia, Canada)

• Key Feature: Long dwell time over northern regions

🌑 10. Halo Orbit

• Path: Around Lagrange points (gravitationally stable areas)

• Use: Space telescopes, solar observatories

• Key Feature: Ideal for stable long-term observation positions