ABSTRACT
The launch of a satellite is an exciting event. A satellite is usually launched by a rocket of intermediate to large size and placed into a synchronous orbit in which the body travels in a long elliptical orbit with apogees of about 22,300 mi. Then adjustments are made on board the spacecraft to shift it into a circular orbit synchronized with the rotation of Earth, so that it remains fixed in one location over the Earth. From an altitude of 22,300 mi about 30% of the Earth’s surface can be covered. Synchronous satellites can broadcast to small, inexpensive receivers and can easily serve as relay stations. Nonsynchronous orbital patterns are used only where it is necessary to meet peculiar communications requirements, such as that of the Soviet Union.
