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The orbital speed of a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, typically at altitudes around 200 to 2,000 kilometers, is approximately 7.8 kilometers per second (about 28,000 kilometers per hour or 17,500 miles per hour). This speed allows the satellite to balance gravitational forces and maintain a stable orbit around the Earth. Variations in altitude can slightly affect this speed, but it generally remains within this range for LEO satellites.

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How long does it take for a satellite to circle around the earth?

The time it takes for a satellite to complete one full orbit around the Earth, known as its orbital period, can vary depending on the altitude of the satellite. On average, a satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) typically takes about 90 minutes to complete one orbit, while a geostationary satellite orbits the Earth every 24 hours.


How many times can a satellite go around the Earth in a day?

A satellite in a low Earth orbit can complete approximately 16 orbits around the Earth in a day. This is because the satellite's orbital period is typically around 90 minutes.


How long does it take a signal to reach a satellite in low Earth orbit?

From Earth to an orbiting satellite it takes approximately 200 to 299million M/S or slightly slower than the speed oflight. This varies on weather and atmospheric conditions. The signal is significantly faster, or closer to the speed of light (299792458 M/S), in the Vacuum of Outer Space.


How far can a satellite go into orbit?

The commonly used altitude classifications are Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and High Earth Orbit (HEO). Low Earth orbit is any orbit below 2000 km, and Medium Earth Orbit is any orbit higher than that but still below the altitude for geosynchronous orbit at 35786 km. High Earth Orbit is any orbit higher than the altitude for geosynchronous orbit.


Why must satellites in Leo travel very fast?

Satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) must travel fast to continue orbiting the Earth without falling back down due to gravity. The high speed helps to balance the force of gravity to keep the satellite in orbit. Additionally, the fast speed allows the satellite to complete its orbit around the Earth in a relatively short amount of time.

Related Questions

A satellite in a low earth orbit moving faster than a satellite in a geosynchronous orbit?

YES As height increases, speed of satellite decreases.


If altitude increases the required orbital speed of a satellite should?

For any body in a closed orbit around another body, the farther apart the two bodies are, the slower the satellite moves in its orbit.. When the Space Shuttle is in "low earth orbit", it moves faster than the Moon is moving in its orbit. A satellite in an elongated orbit, that spends some of the time close to the earth and some of the time farther away, moves fastest at its lowest altitude, and slowest when it is furthest away.


How long does it take for a satellite to circle around the earth?

The time it takes for a satellite to complete one full orbit around the Earth, known as its orbital period, can vary depending on the altitude of the satellite. On average, a satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) typically takes about 90 minutes to complete one orbit, while a geostationary satellite orbits the Earth every 24 hours.


How many times can a satellite go around the Earth in a day?

A satellite in a low Earth orbit can complete approximately 16 orbits around the Earth in a day. This is because the satellite's orbital period is typically around 90 minutes.


How fast do a GPS satellites travel?

This actually depends on the orbital radius, or distance from Earth's surface (or center). The further away the satellite is, the slower it travels to stay in orbit (related to Kepler's second law). A satellite that is really close to the atmosphere and barely in space needs to travel at about 7800m/s. A satellite can speed up and increase its tangential velocity to make its orbit bigger. A bigger orbit results in a lower speed. Interestingly, this means that an orbiter speeds up to slow down. Likewise, a satellite in a high orbit can fire its engines backwards to reduce its speed to get into a smaller, faster orbit, ultimately speeding up. ================================ In an orbit that's not a perfect circle, the speed in orbit is always changing. The satellite moves faster when it's closer to the Earth, and slower when it's farther out.


What are the orbital communications satellites are placed in called?

Geosynchronous orbit? or Low Earth Orbit?


How do satellites move in orbit?

Satellite orbit the Earth at different altitudes. A good overview of Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit and Geostationary Orbit can be found here: http://www.idirect.net/Company/Satellite-Basics/How-Satellite-Works.aspx


What is the significance of eccentricity in determining the orbital characteristics of planets?

The eccentricity of a planet's orbit is important in determining its orbital characteristics because it affects the shape and size of the orbit. A high eccentricity means the orbit is more elongated, while a low eccentricity means the orbit is more circular. This can impact factors such as the planet's distance from the sun, its speed, and its overall stability in its orbit.


What is sun-synchronous orbit speed?

A sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) is a specific type of low Earth orbit that allows satellites to maintain a consistent angle with respect to the Sun as the Earth rotates. The orbital speed required for a satellite in SSO is approximately 7.4 kilometers per second (about 26,640 kilometers per hour or 16,600 miles per hour). This speed enables the satellite to complete an orbit roughly every 90 to 100 minutes, ensuring it passes over the same point on Earth at the same solar time each day. This characteristic is particularly useful for Earth observation and remote sensing applications.


Explain how the force due to gravity keeps a satellite in orbit?

A satellite remains in orbit due to the gravitational force exerted by the Earth, which pulls it towards the planet. As the satellite moves forward at a high velocity, this gravitational pull acts as a centripetal force, continuously changing the direction of the satellite's motion and keeping it in a curved path around the Earth. The balance between this gravitational attraction and the satellite's inertia, which tries to move it in a straight line, results in a stable orbit. If the satellite's speed is too low, it will fall back to Earth, while too high a speed will cause it to escape orbit.


How does friction with the atmosphere affect the speed of an artificial satellite?

Satellites in a low orbit, however, are slowed by friction with Earth's atmosphere.


The time period of a geostationary satellite is?

If a satellite is in geosynchronous orbit, it will take the satellite 24 hours, a day, to orbit the Earth once. This is so because geosynchronous orbit is when a satellite orbit the Earth at such a time, that is is over the Earth at all times.