Why are the planets so far away from each other?

Answer 1

Communication satellites must be in a fixed position in relation to the earth so that a dish can be in a permanent position aiming at the satellite. Satellites must travel approximately 17,000 mph to maintain their orbit. To be in a fixed position in relation to earth and traveling at 17,000 mph, they must be high.

Answer 2

Just the way it is.

Comment: Maybe, but it probably has something to do with gravity. Well spread out planets have only small gravitational effects on each other.

That should help their orbits to remain stable.

Answer 3

Because so many of them have been launched, and ... for perhaps the

past 30 years ... most launches produce a successful orbital insertion.

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Satellites are expensive to build, and REALLY expensive to launch. Every one has a purpose.

Some are military in nature; communications, electronic surveillance, orbital imagery.

Many are commercial; TV satellites, communications relay satellites, weather imagery, cell phones.

Some are more fun or enjoyment related; there's the old OSCAR satellites built by HAM radio operators, and piggybacked into space because the booster had some excess capacity. College students, and even some high schools, are building "cube-sats" that are boosted into orbit as hitchhikers.

Once they're up there, they generally stay up there unless they were launched into fairly low orbits.