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Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit
So, a satellite in GEO always stays directly over the same spot on Earth. To stay over the same spot on earth, a geostationary satellite also has to be directly above the equator. Otherwise, from the earth the satellite would appear to move in a north south line every day. The concept of the geostationary orbit has been around since the early part of the twentieth century. Apparently, the concept was originated by Russian theorist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky who wrote numerous science and science fiction articles on space travel at the turn of the century. Back in 1945, science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke imagined communications satellites in stationary orbits where they would travel around the world at the same speed the globe is spinning, making them hang stationary over one spot on Earth's surface. Scores of communications and weather satellites, operated by many countries and international organizations, occupy positions assigned to every nation in the Clarke Belt. Many popular television satellites, sending programs to backyard dish antennas, are in stationary orbits. |
A satellite in geosychonous
equatorial orbit is located directly above the equator, exactly 22,300
miles out in space. At that distance, it takes the satellite a full 24
hours to circle the planet. Since it takes the Earth 24 hours to spin,
the satellite and Earth move together.