Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are developed to orbit between 200 km to 2,000 km above the Earth’s surface. These satellites are required to travel at about 27,000 kph to complete a full circuit of the planet in 90 to 120 minutes. In addition, LEO satellite is used for various applications, such as data communication, remote sensing, and research.
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites are launched on a precise trajectory by launch systems to circle Earth above the equator from west to east at the same speed as the Earth. GEO is used by satellites that must remain above a certain point on Earth, such as telecommunication satellites. In addition, GEO satellite networks can provide very high broadband data throughput, with up to 50 Mbps downlink and 5 Mbps uplink.
Today, nanosatellites are increasingly being adopted for developing the Internet of Things (IoT) on a global scale. They provide global connectivity, even in remote areas without land communication cover. Small satellites that were earlier used by research institutes and universities, are now being developed by the private sector to provide commercial services.
