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Geo Stationary Satellite

The satellite that is located above the equator at a distance of 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) is called a Geostationary satellite. It is also referred to as GEO (geosynchronous equatorial orbit) that follows the direction of the earth’s rotation. If any objects are placed in the geostationary orbit, their orbital period will be equal to the earth’s rotational period. It will be equal to one sidereal day.

In 1940 Arthur C. Clarke was the one who spread the concept of geostationary orbit as it was used for telecommunication purposes. In 1963 the first satellite was planted in the geostationary orbits. A most common type of satellite that is placed in a geostationary satellite is a communication satellite. Many stationary antennae are located on the earth for the direct connection from the satellite instead of rotating ones

Geostationary Satellite Definition

  • The satellite that is located above the equator at a distance of 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) is called a Geostationary satellite. It is also referred to as GEO (geosynchronous equatorial orbit) that follows the direction of the earth’s rotation.
  • The satellites mainly help with communication. 
  • There is no inclination in the geostationary orbit. It lies on the same plane as the equator.
  • The first geo satellite was launched in an east direction facing prograde orbit. It is the tone with earth rotation rate.
  • It is very close to the equator. So necessitate for inclination in later stages.
  • The earth’s rotational force acts as a boost for the satellites that are located near the equator.
  • Scientists always launch the satellite in the east direction. In case of any accidents, the rocket falls on the east side where there are more water resources and deserts so people won’t get affected.
  • With the help of vehicles, many satellites are directly launched into stationary orbits.
  • Like Newton’s third law, a rocket engine creates propulsion force that takes the satellite to geostationary orbit.

Uses of Geostationary Satellite

Geostationary satellites are helpful in many ways. Here are some of the uses of geostationary satellite

  1. Communication
  2. Meteorology
  3. Navigation

Communication

Geostationary satellites are present stationary in the sky. So no need for a revolutionary antenna and the transmitter. The satellites mainly help in communication. Many antennas are placed over the earth for receiving and transmitting, which is less expensive. The signal travels from the earth to the satellite and to earth in 240-meter seconds. latency is noteworthy

Even though the latency is note-worthy, some might feel signal connectivity in a voice application. Its main application was used for unidirectional entertainment and other applications.

People living on the pole side can see the satellite near the lower sky. If the latitude distance increases, the communication will be affected. The factors that affect latency are atmospheric refraction, earth thermal emission, and some other structure that acts as a line of sight obstruction. If the earth surface is 81 degrees from latitude and longitude, the geostationary satellite can be easily seen from the earth surface

Meteorology

With the help of a geostationary satellite, one can get infrared images. It tracks both the earth’s surface temperature, weather observation, and oceanography. A survey says about 19 satellites are present either in working stay or just on standby

India’s INSAT series is one of the satellites that are present in space that capture images in the visual and infrared spectrum. It captures images with spatial resolution between 0.5 and 4 kilometers

Geostationary satellite helps to measure

  1. Top temperature
  2. Water vapor presents in the clouds
  3. Oceanography
  4. Cyclone path prediction
  5. Vegetation coverage
  6. Measuring land temperature
  7. Short term and real-time forecasting

Navigation

In the GNSS(Global navigation satellite system), a geostationary satellite application is used. It helps to measure

  • ephemeris error correction
  • ionosphere error corrections
  • provides the additional reference signal

Limitation of Geostationary Satellite

There are two major limitations in geostationary satellite

  1. Mutual conflict is required for the maintenance of more number of satellite since the orbital zone is narrow
  2. Electromagnetic waves have to travel a distance that is higher. It means the signal from the geostationary satellites travels 44600 miles (71,600 km). It takes 240 meters per second to travel a signal from the earth to the satellite. And also from satellite to earth. Latency is noteworthy. Each signal travels 800000 kilometers per second.

Some other problems are

  • For every 24 hours, the position of the satellite varies due to the gravitational interface between the sun and the satellite.
  • Geostationary satellites are responsible for solar fade. When it comes near the sun more electromagnetic waves. Due to these electromagnetic waves more background noise is produced.

LEO (low earth orbit) has been popular in recent days. LEO is located at altitude in the range of 60 km to 1000 km. It is much closer to the earth compared to other satellites. The main purpose of the LEO is satellite imaging. And it also helps with remote sensing. ISS (international space station) uses low earth orbits

Geostationary Satellite

Geostationary orbit is an orbit where any objects are placed in the geostationary orbit, and their orbital period will be equal to the earth’s rotational period. It will be equal to one sidereal day (23 hours and 56 minutes)

The other name of the geostationary orbit is

  1. Geostationary earth orbit
  2. Geosynchronous equatorial orbit

Suppose the satellite present in this orbit won’t change the location. It means it won’t change the location concerning the earth. In geostationary satellites, the gravitational pull is exact. It means the speed of the satellite is equal to the orbit velocity due to gravitational pull.

Conclusion

In geostationary satellite, we have seen about the Geostationary satellite and its limitations and uses, geostationary orbits etc. The satellite that is located above the equator at a distance of 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) is called a Geostationary satellite. Geostationary satellites are helpful in many ways. Some of the uses of geostationary satellites are in communication, meteorology and navigation.