🛰️ How Do Satellites Stay in Orbit?
Satellites stay in orbit because they are launched at very high speeds. To remain above Earth, a satellite must travel at about 8 kilometers per second. At this speed, gravity pulls the satellite toward Earth while its forward motion keeps it moving around the planet instead of falling straight down.
If a satellite orbits too close to Earth (below about 200 km), thin traces of the atmosphere create drag that slowly slows it down. Eventually it loses height and can burn up or crash back to Earth.
Satellites placed much higher above Earth can remain in orbit for many years.
Some satellites are put into a special path called a geostationary orbit. In this orbit, the satellite moves at the same speed as Earth’s rotation, so it appears to stay fixed above the same point on Earth, making it ideal for communication and weather satellites. 🛰️
Satellites stay in orbit because they are launched at very high speeds. To remain above Earth, a satellite must travel at about 8 kilometers per second. At this speed, gravity pulls the satellite toward Earth while its forward motion keeps it moving around the planet instead of falling straight down.
If a satellite orbits too close to Earth (below about 200 km), thin traces of the atmosphere create drag that slowly slows it down. Eventually it loses height and can burn up or crash back to Earth.
Satellites placed much higher above Earth can remain in orbit for many years.
Some satellites are put into a special path called a geostationary orbit. In this orbit, the satellite moves at the same speed as Earth’s rotation, so it appears to stay fixed above the same point on Earth, making it ideal for communication and weather satellites. 🛰️
🛰️ How Do Satellites Stay in Orbit?
Satellites stay in orbit because they are launched at very high speeds. To remain above Earth, a satellite must travel at about 8 kilometers per second. At this speed, gravity pulls the satellite toward Earth while its forward motion keeps it moving around the planet instead of falling straight down.
If a satellite orbits too close to Earth (below about 200 km), thin traces of the atmosphere create drag that slowly slows it down. Eventually it loses height and can burn up or crash back to Earth.
Satellites placed much higher above Earth can remain in orbit for many years.
Some satellites are put into a special path called a geostationary orbit. In this orbit, the satellite moves at the same speed as Earth’s rotation, so it appears to stay fixed above the same point on Earth, making it ideal for communication and weather satellites. 🛰️
