When a satellite is in a geostationary orbit, is it moving at a high speed or not moving at all? How is it able to keep an exact match with earths rotation?

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When a satellite is in a geostationary orbit, is it moving at a high speed or not moving at all? How is it able to keep an exact match with earths rotation?

In: Physics

7 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

It’s moving really quickly

The surface of the Earth at the equator is moving about 1000 mph but the air and everything on the surface are moving the same speed so you don’t notice

Since geostationary satellites are far away (22,000 miles) they have to cover a longer distance every day so geostationary satellites are moving at about 6900 mph to cover the extra distance

Since both the surface and the satellite go around once every 24 hours it appears to hover in the same spot all the time

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