Satellite Orbits

Low, medium and geostationary

An interactive lesson with 7 steps, about 6 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Orbit speed $v = \sqrt{GM/r}$ and period $T = 2\pi\sqrt{r^3/GM}$: higher is slower.
• Low orbits take about 90 minutes; geostationary orbits sit 35,790 km above the equator.
• To catch up in orbit, first slow down.

Steps

1. Speed and period
2. The Space Station
3. Geostationary
4. Why over the equator?
5. GPS satellites
6. Catching up
7. Slow down to catch up