AllExperts > Encyclopedia 
Search      
Find out about volunteering to AllExperts

Earth orbit: Encyclopedia BETA


Free Encyclopedia
 Index · Browse A-Z  · Questions and Answers ·
Encyclopedia

Browse A-Z
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZNum


License
Disclaimer

 
 
 
 
Free Online Courses
12 Weeks to Weight Loss
Take Charge of Stress
Learn How to Bake
Budgeting 101
Deeper Faith
DIY Fashion Makeover

       MORE E-COURSES
 
   

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z  Misc

Earth orbit

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



Email this page
About Us | Advertise on This Site | User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy | Help
About and About.com are registered trademarks of About, Inc. The About logo is a trademark of About, Inc. All rights reserved.
This is the "GNU Free Documentation License" reference article from the English Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. See also our Disclaimer.