GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT
Satellite Communications Glossary
Satellite Communications — Geosynchronous orbit
Information on Geosynchronous orbit
In satellite communications, a geosynchronous orbit is a satellite orbit in which the period of rotation of the satellite is an integer multiple of the Earth’s period of rotation. The most common multiple is one, where the satellite's period of rotation equals the Earth's. A geosynchronous satellite can have any angle of inclination. The geostationary Earth orbit is a particular case of a geosynchronous orbit located in the equatorial plane (with a 0° inclination), and a height (35 786 km) and velocity (3.073 km/s or 11 069 km/hr) such that the period of rotation equals that of the Earth. Consequently, a satellite in geostationary orbit appears stationary to Earth stations beneath it. This is a very useful orbit for satellite communications systems that require a large coverage area with little or no pointing required of the Earth station antenna.
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