Altitude Classifications For Geocentric Orbits
- Low Earth orbit (LEO): Geocentric orbits with altitudes up to 2,000 km (0–1,240 miles).
- Medium Earth orbit (MEO): Geocentric orbits ranging in altitude from 2,000 km (1,240 miles) to just below geosynchronous orbit at 35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi). Also known as an intermediate circular orbit. These are "most commonly at 20,200 kilometres (12,600 mi), or 20,650 kilometres (12,830 mi), with an orbital period of 12 hours."
- 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 42,164 km (26,199 mi). All geostationary orbits are also geosynchronous, but not all geosynchronous orbits are geostationary, as a geosynchronous orbit may have an orbital inclination that is not coplanar with the Earth's equatorial plane; however both complete one full orbit of Earth per sidereal day.
- High Earth orbit: Geocentric orbits above the altitude of geosynchronous orbit 35,786 km (22,240 miles).
Read more about this topic: List Of Orbits
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