How Fast Do Satellites Travel When Orbiting the Earth?

The speed of satellites is an interesting topic. They travel incredibly fast, yet most of us never think about it. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at satellite speeds and what they’re used for. We’ll help you understand these amazing machines! So, how fast do satellites travel?

Learn in This Article

  • How Do Satellites Work
  • How Fast Do Satellites Travel
  • The ISS
  • How Do Satellites Get to a Stable Orbit
  • How to Spot Satellites in the Night Sky
  • How Much Space Junk Is Orbiting the Earth
  • Key Takeaways

How Do Satellites Work

If you think about it, satellites are pretty impressive. They orbit the Earth at high speeds and can be used for various purposes, from navigation to communications. But how do they actually work?

Earth-orbiting satellites are just large metal objects that serve many purposes. They don’t generate power, so they rely on solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. This power is used to operate the satellite’s equipment and enable communication with ground stations on Earth.

There are a variety of uses for satellites, including navigation, communication, and weather forecasting. GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, for example, are used to provide accurate location information for GPS devices. Weather satellites, on the other hand, are used to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere and track storms.

How Fast Do Satellites Travel

Satellites travel at incredibly high speeds, reaching an orbital velocity of 17,000 miles per hour. However, the speed of a satellite can vary depending on its orbit. For example, geostationary satellites travel much slower than low Earth orbit satellites. In other words, the closer a satellite is to Earth, the faster it will travel.

Low Earth Orbit Satellites

Low Earth orbit or LEO satellites reach an orbital velocity of 17,000 miles per hour. As they travel, they constantly adjust their speed and altitude to keep from being drawn back into the atmosphere. LEO satellites are used for various purposes, such as communication, Earth observation, geo-location, signal monitoring, etc. One of their key advantages is that they can be quickly moved to different locations if needed.

Medium Earth Orbit Satellites

Medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites orbit in the middle range of Earth’s orbit. So, how far are MEO satellites from Earth? Well, they occupy space between 3,100 and 7,500 miles. They’re often used for telecommunications and weather observation. MEO satellites make a trip around Earth in anywhere from 2 to 24 hours, providing more coverage than LEOs. 

Geostationary Satellites

A geostationary satellite is in an orbit that can only be achieved at an altitude of 22,236 miles, circling above the equator and following Earth’s rotation. So, how fast do geostationary satellites travel? Because of the way they move, they appear to be in a fixed position. Still, they travel at the speed of about 7,000 miles per hour. A GEO satellite covers a large portion of Earth. In fact, three equally spaced satellites are enough to provide global coverage. 

The ISS

The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space station in low Earth orbit. The ISS is the largest artificial satellite in orbit and can be seen without the aid of a telescope from Earth. The orbital speed of the ISS is 17,500 miles per hour.

This orbital speed is necessary to maintain the station’s altitude of approximately 248 miles above the Earth’s surface. At this altitude, the ISS experiences very little atmospheric drag, which would otherwise cause the station to lose altitude and eventually burn up in the atmosphere. NASA plans to do this in 2031 when the ISS will be decommissioned.

At the maximum speed of the ISS, it can complete one orbit of Earth in just 92 minutes. Although the ISS travels at high speeds, astronauts on board the station experience weightlessness because they are in free fall.

How Do Satellites Get to a Stable Orbit

Satellites used to be launched with space shuttles and rockets, but since the space shuttle program’s retirement, they have been exclusively launched into space on rockets. The rocket lifts the satellite off the ground and gives it enough speed to reach orbit. Once the satellite is in orbit, it uses its own engines to maintain its position.

How to Spot Satellites in the Night Sky

If you want to see a satellite in the night sky, there are a few things you need to know. First, you must find a clear view of the sky without any trees, buildings, or light pollution. Second, you need to know when the satellite will be passing overhead and at what speeds that satellite is traveling.

There are a few ways to determine when a satellite will be visible. One is to use a satellite tracking app like SkySafari or Heavens-Above. These apps will show you a night sky map and tell you when and where to look for specific satellites.

Another way to find out when a satellite will be visible is to check the Satellite Map website. This website shows all the satellites, the altitude of those satellites, the country of origin, and the size of the satellites.

Once you know when and where to look, spotting a satellite in the night sky is easy! Just look for a moving object that appears as a bright dot. 

How Much Space Junk Is Orbiting the Earth

An estimated 37,000 pieces of space junk are orbiting the Earth. This space junk includes everything from rocket stages and old satellites to bits of paint and metal that have been shed by spacecraft over the years.

Most of this space junk is concentrated in low Earth orbit (LEO), the portion of space between about 370 and 620 miles above the Earth’s surface. The concentration of space junk in LEO poses a risk to active satellites. Collisions with a satellite at these altitudes with space junk can lead to communication and navigation disruptions.

The risk of collisions is one of the reasons why there is a growing interest in cleaning up space junk. A few different approaches are being investigated, including using lasers to disintegrate space junk or “netting” it with giant nets. However, no large-scale cleanup efforts have been undertaken yet.

Key Takeaways

  • Low Earth orbit satellites travel at high speeds and are used for different purposes, such as communication, Earth observation, geo-location, signal monitoring, etc.
  • Medium Earth orbit satellites are used for telecommunications and weather observation.
  • Geostationary satellites appear stationary from the ground, making them useful for communications satellites.
  • The ISS travels at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour to maintain its altitude.
  • Satellites orbit the Earth at high speeds, but astronauts on board the station experience weightlessness because they are in free fall.
  • At its maximum speed, the ISS can complete one orbit of Earth in just 92 minutes.
  • Satellites are launched into space on rockets and use their engines to maintain their position.
  • About 37,000 pieces of space junk are orbiting the Earth, most of which are concentrated in low Earth orbit.
  • The risk of collisions with space junk is one of the reasons why there is a growing interest in cleaning up space junk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast are the fastest satellites?

The speed of a satellite depends on its orbit. A low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite travels much faster than a geostationary satellite (GEO). The fastest satellites can reach speeds of up to 17,500 miles per hour, but most satellites travel at speeds of around 7,000 miles per hour. 
For comparison, the ISS travels at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour when it’s in orbit. The Parker Solar Probe spacecraft, on the other hand, achieved a speed of 364,621 miles per hour on November 21, 2021, during its 10th close solar flyby. By 2025, it will reach the speed of 430,000 miles per hour during its closest approach to the Sun.

Do satellites move faster than the Earth?

Yes, most satellites orbit faster than the Earth, especially those in low and middle Earth orbits.

How often does a satellite orbit Earth?

It depends. Low Earth orbit satellites can complete an orbit in 90 minutes, while medium Earth orbit satellites can take up to 24 hours to do so. The International Space Station is in a low Earth orbit, meaning it circles our planet roughly 16 times a day. 

Is the ISS in geosynchronous orbit?

No, the ISS is not in a geosynchronous orbit. It’s in low Earth orbit (LEO), which means it orbits at a lower altitude than geosynchronous orbit (GEO).

How many miles to low Earth orbit?

A low Earth orbit is an orbit with an altitude above Earth’s surface that ranges from 100 to 1,200 miles. 

What is the speed of a satellite in a geosynchronous orbit?

A geosynchronous orbit is an Earth-centered orbit. It has an orbital period that matches the Earth’s rotation. But how fast do satellites travel in geosynchronous orbit? Well, a satellite must travel 7,000 miles per hour to stay in geosynchronous orbit.