LEO – Definition and Pronunciation
What is LEO?
Either elliptical or (more commonly) circular orbits that are at a height of approximately 2 000 km or less above the surface of the earth. The orbit period at these altitudes varies between ninety minutes and two hours and the maximum time during which a satellite in LEO orbit is above the local horizon for an observer on the earth is up to 20 min.
Examples of LEO
The Van Allen Belt contains trapped high-energy particles captured by the earth’s magnetic field; the Van Allen Belt exists in a middle-level zone located below the GSO and above the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
From “Satellite Technology Advances: Electric Propulsion and Launch Platforms”.
This market is typically served by low earth orbit (LEO) operators such as Iridium (with the 9602 transceiver) and Globalstar (with the SPOT service for emergency calls from remote locations, as well as by Inmarsat ISAT M2M providers (e. g., Skywave).
From “M2M Developments and Satellite Applications”.
Furthermore, the electromagnetic environment for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and MEO satellites is relatively harsh, so that the lifespan of an LEO satellite is typically shorter, thus requiring a more frequent replacement (the lifespan of LEOs is in the range of 7 years as compared with around 15 years for a GSO satellite).
From “High Throughput Satellites (HTS) and KA/KU Spot Beam Technologies”.
Pronunciation of LEO
