Most communications satellites operate outside of the earth's atmosphere. The GPS satellites are about 23,000 miles from the surface of the earth.
Satellites need to be out of the earth's atmosphere or the gravity would make them fall to the ground. In space, the satellites are also able to orbit the earth effortlessly because they have less weight.
Old satellites orbiting near the Earth eventually fall back into the atmosphere and burn. Satellites orbiting farther away stay in orbit indefinitely.
Satellites in low orbit are affected by drag from the very top layer of the atmosphere. This drag eventually slows them down, which brings them in contact with denser layers of atmosphere, which slows them down and brings them down even more. Eventually, they burn up by the heat from rushing real fast through the air.
communication satellites, astronomy, navigation, etc.
The time it takes to put together a satellite varies on the size and structure of the satellite. A simple satellite could be put together in a couple of months, where a large science mission could take ten or more years.
thermosphere
If they are in the atmosphere (low earth orbit), satellites are in the ionosphere. If they are in higher orbits, satellites are considered to be outside the atmosphere.
Thermosphere and the exosphere
exosphere
exosphere
Communication satellites orbit around the Earth.Communication satellites orbit around the Earth.Communication satellites orbit around the Earth.Communication satellites orbit around the Earth.
Satellites should orbit the earth above the atmosphere. If satellites fall down into the atmosphere, every time they hit an air molecule, it will make them hotter. If they hit enough air molecules, it will make them real hot and slow them down. Then like a flaming meteor, they burn up as they streak across the sky.
SatellitesSatellites orbit in outer space, not in the earth. They are sent to outer space where the gravitational pull of the earth pulls them around, just as the earth is pulled around the sun in a similar manner. The layer is the exosphere. It greatly depends on what the satellite is for and who owns it how far up it orbits. Imaging satellites need to be close to the Earth, so they orbit about 130 miles up. Communications satellites are generally at 23,000 miles up. GPS satellites are up about 13,000 miles.
Manned satellites orbit in the thermosphere, from about 53 to 500 miles above the Earth.
Yes, the satellites orbit in a geosynchronous orbit, as with most all communications satellites. (Some exceptions are satellites such as the global positioning satellites.)
Geosynchronous orbit? or Low Earth Orbit?
The ionosphere