Question

In which type of satellite orbit is the visibility from a fixed point on Earth limited to a maximum of 20 minutes?

• A. High Earth Orbit
• B. Medium Earth Orbit
• C. Low Earth Orbit
• D. Geostationary Orbit

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Low Earth Orbit

• Correct Answer: Option C - Low Earth Orbit

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites orbit at altitudes between 160 km to 2,000 km above Earth's surface. Due to their proximity to Earth and their relatively high orbital velocity, LEO satellites move quickly across the sky when viewed from a fixed point on Earth. This results in short visibility windows, typically only 10-20 minutes per pass.

• Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites orbit at altitudes of approximately 2,000 km to 35,786 km. These satellites typically provide longer visibility periods of several hours.

• Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites are positioned at approximately 35,786 km above the equator. They orbit at the same rate as Earth's rotation, making them appear stationary from a fixed point on Earth's surface. This provides continuous 24-hour visibility.

• High Earth Orbit (HEO) typically refers to orbits beyond geostationary altitude. These also provide extended visibility periods.

• Therefore, only Low Earth Orbit (LEO) matches the description of being limited to a maximum visibility of 20 minutes from a fixed point on Earth.