eli5 how are satellites placed in just the right spot so they dont fall to earth or drift into space?

Question

eli5 how are satellites placed in just the right spot so they dont fall to earth or drift into space?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

Acceleration is the way to leave an object’s orbit (escape velocity). We don’t accelerate a satellite fast enough to reach that velocity, so it remains in earth’s gravitational pull and starts its orbit. Any other adjustments come from some amount of propulsion system built-in beforehand.