Re: Globalstar flares; definition of "LEO"
jeff@satellite.eu.org
Mon, 16 Feb 98 09:01:08
--- On Mon, 16 Feb 1998 03:46:35 -0600 Ed Cannon
<ecannon@mail.utexas.edu> wrote in part:
>The Globalstar people say "low Earth orbit" is less than 1500 km.
>Another definition I read somewhere said below 1000 km. A third
>one said anything below geosynchronous! What's the definitive
>definition of LEO?
The definition of LEO I've seen (sorry, I presently can't find the
reference source) is a satellite with an orbital period of 225 minutes or
less. A satellite in a highly elliptical orbit with a period of 225
minutes would have a high apogee.
highly elliptical example:
NORAD 22879/COSPAR 1993-068C
11,396 x 190 km orbit with a period of 223 minutes
Whereas, a satellite in a nearly circular orbit would have an altitude of
over 5800 km.
near circular example:
NORAD 3307/COSPAR 1968-055A
5864 x 5832 km orbit with a period of 224 minutes
Jeff Hunt <jeff@satellite.eu.org>