Satellite Orbit Calculator
Satellite Orbit Calculator
Calculate orbital parameters and visualize satellite trajectories
Satellite Orbit Calculator
Orbital Characteristics
Orbital Period: 0 minutes
Orbital Velocity: 0 km/s
Escape Velocity: 0 km/s
Understanding Satellite Orbits
Satellite orbits are determined by fundamental physics principles. Our calculator uses Newtonian mechanics and Kepler's laws:
Key Orbital Formulas
Orbital Period: T = 2Ï€√(a³/μ)
Orbital Velocity: v = √(μ/r)
Escape Velocity: vâ‚‘ = √(2μ/r)
Where μ = gravitational parameter, r = orbital radiusLow Earth Orbit (LEO)
160-2,000 km altitude, used for Earth observation and ISS
Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
2,000-35,786 km, used for GPS and navigation systems
Geostationary Orbit (GEO)
35,786 km, remains fixed above one point on Earth
Orbit Calculation FAQs
Why do satellites stay in orbit?
Balance between gravitational pull and tangential velocity creates stable free-fall trajectory.
How does altitude affect orbital period?
Higher orbits have longer periods (Geostationary: 24hrs, LEO: ~90mins)
Orbit Applications
- Weather monitoring: Polar orbits provide global coverage
- Communications: GEO satellites for TV and radio
- GPS navigation: MEO constellations for positioning
- Earth observation: Sun-synchronous orbits for consistent lighting