Orbital position

Satellites can be placed in different orbital positions depending on their purpose. Some of the common orbital positions for communications and telecommunications satellites include Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) at an altitude of about 35,786 km above the equator, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of a few hundred to a few thousand kilometres, and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at an altitude of 10,000 to 20,000 km. Different orbits can be used for research and geodetic satellites, depending on the mission objectives.

Polar and Sun-synchronous orbit

SSO stands for “sun-synchronous orbit”. It is a type of orbit in which a satellite revolves around the Earth in such a way that its position relative to the sun remains constant. Satellites in a sun-synchronous orbit are typically used for Earth observation, climate change monitoring, satellite imaging, and other applications requiring constant illumination and identical lighting conditions.

“Reaching orbit” is a term that refers to the successful achievement of a satellite or rocket in a designated orbit around the Earth. This process involves launching a rocket from launch sites, ascending to a specified altitude and speed, achieving the required orbit, and deploying a satellite into that orbit. Reaching orbit is a critical point in the launch and ensures the satellite can perform its intended functions, be it communications, observation or scientific research.