Page 19 - SATELLITE AND RADAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)

 Medium Earth orbit comprises a wide range of orbits anywhere between LEO and
GEO.
 A MEO satellite is in orbit somewhere between 8,000 km and 18,000 km above
the earth’s surface.
 MEO satellites are similar to LEO satellites in functionality.

 MEO satellites take approximately 6-8 hours to circle the earth.
 MEO satellites are visible for much longer periods of time than LEO satellites,
usually between 2 to 8 hours.
 MEO satellites have a larger coverage area than LEO satellites.

Advantages of MEO:
A MEO satellite’s longer duration of MEO
visibility and wider footprint means

fewer satellites are needed in a MEO
network than a LEO network.

Disadvantages of MEO:
A MEO satellite’s distance gives it a
longer time delay and weaker signal 8,000 ~ 18,000km
than a LEO satellite, though not as
bad as a GEO satellite.

Figure 1.8: Medium Earth Orbit

Applications: Meteorological satellite, Global Positioning System (GPS)

Tutorial 1d

There are three types of circular orbit shape

which is Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Or-

bit (MEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO).

Explain LEO and give ONE (1) of its application. 11

Introduction to Satellite Communication System