Earth orbit

From Free net encyclopedia

Earth orbit is an orbit around the planet Earth. The Moon, Earth's only natural satellite, is in Earth orbit. Artificial satellites are launched into Earth orbit, and spacecraft bound for other locations in the solar system usually begin their missions by first attaining Earth orbit, before altering course to another planet, moon, or heliocentric (solar) orbit.

Of special interest are LEO (Low Earth Orbit), HEO (High Earth Orbit) and geosynchronous orbit.

• Low Earth orbit
• High Earth orbit
• Intermediate circular orbit
• Elliptic orbit
• Circular orbit
• Geocentric orbit
• Geostationary orbit
• Geosynchronous orbit (a circular, synchronous orbit that hovers over a point on the equator)
• Geostationary transfer orbit (an elliptical orbit that touches both low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit)
• Inclined orbit (a non equatorial orbit)
• Molniya orbit (a synchronous orbit that spends long periods over a non equatorial point)
• Polar orbit (an orbit whose orbital track goes near to the poles)
• Planetary orbit
• Disposal orbit
• Graveyard orbit
• Synchronous orbit
• Sun-synchronous orbit (an orbit that is always in sunlight)

See also

• Areosynchronous satellite
• Areostationary satellite
• Difference between sub-orbital and orbital spaceflights
• Earth observation satellite
• Escape velocity
• Orbit
• Orbital spaceflight
• Satellite
• Sub-orbital spaceflight