Low Earth Orbit Satellites
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are spacecraft that orbit the Earth at altitudes ranging from about 180 to 2,000 kilometers. They are commonly used for various applications, including telecommunications, Earth observation, and scientific research. Due to their proximity to the Earth, LEO satellites can provide lower latency communication and higher-resolution images compared to satellites in higher orbits.
These satellites typically complete an orbit around the Earth in about 90 to 120 minutes. Notable examples of LEO satellite constellations include Starlink by SpaceX and OneWeb. The increasing number of LEO satellites is transforming global internet access and enhancing our understanding of the planet.