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Orbit
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==Earth orbits== {{Main|List of orbits}} * [[Low Earth orbit]] (LEO): [[Geocentric orbit]]s with altitudes up to 2,000 [[km]] (0β1,240 [[mile]]s).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/library/NSS1740_14/nss1740_14-1995.pdf |title=NASA Safety Standard 1740.14, Guidelines and Assessment Procedures for Limiting Orbital Debris |publisher=Office of Safety and Mission Assurance |date=1 August 1995 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215143933/http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/library/NSS1740_14/nss1740_14-1995.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2013 }}, pp. 37β38 (6-1, 6-2); figure 6-1.</ref> * [[Medium Earth orbit]] (MEO): [[Geocentric orbit]]s ranging in altitude from 2,000 [[km]] (1,240 [[mile]]s) to just below [[geosynchronous orbit]] at {{convert|35786|km|mi|sp=us}}. Also known as an [[intermediate circular orbit]]. These are "most commonly at {{convert|20200|km|mi|sp=us}}, or {{convert|20650|km|mi|sp=us}}, with an orbital period of 12 hours."<ref name=nasa_orbit_definition/> * Both [[geosynchronous orbit]] (GSO) and [[geostationary orbit]] (GEO) are orbits around Earth matching Earth's [[sidereal rotation]] period. All geosynchronous and geostationary orbits have a [[semi-major axis]] of {{convert|42164|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref> {{cite book |title=Fundamentals of Astrodynamics and Applications |last=Vallado |first=David A. |date=2007 |publisher=Microcosm Press |location=Hawthorne, CA |page=31 }}</ref> All geostationary orbits are also geosynchronous, but not all geosynchronous orbits are geostationary. A geostationary orbit stays exactly above the equator, whereas a geosynchronous orbit may swing north and south to cover more of the Earth's surface. Both complete one full orbit of Earth per sidereal day (relative to the stars, not the Sun). * [[High Earth orbit]]: [[Geocentric orbit]]s above the altitude of [[geosynchronous orbit]] 35,786 [[km]] (22,240 [[mile]]s).<ref name=nasa_orbit_definition> {{cite web |title=Orbit: Definition |url=http://gcmd.nasa.gov/add/ancillaryguide/platforms/orbit.html |work=Ancillary Description Writer's Guide, 2013 |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Global Change Master Directory |access-date=29 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511114407/http://gcmd.nasa.gov/add/ancillaryguide/platforms/orbit.html |archive-date=11 May 2013 }}</ref>
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