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Aerospace By JakeCook 1 min read

Geostationary orbit in 3 questions

At nearly 36,000 km above the Earth, some satellites seem to stand still in the sky. Here's why.

L'orbite géostationnaire en 3 questions

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What is a geostationary orbit?

It is a circular orbit above the equator, at an altitude of about 35,786 km. A satellite placed there goes around the Earth at exactly the same speed as the Earth spins on itself.

Why is it so useful?

Seen from the ground, the satellite looks motionless. An antenna can therefore stay pointed at it at all times, without having to track it. It’s ideal for television, telecommunications and weather forecasting.

Why is it sometimes called the “Clarke belt”?

As a tribute to the writer Arthur C. Clarke, who popularised the idea of using this orbit for communication satellites as early as 1945.

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