

Re: LEO Altitudes?

I don't believe there are any regulations on the orbit you can put your
satellite in, except that you wouldn't want to put it in an orbit where it
would be likely to hit something else that is already up there.  You don't
see many satellites with inclinations greater than 100 degrees because it
takes alot more energy to place objects in retrograde orbits.  Money
probably plays the biggest part in what type of orbit you get.  

Check out Amsat Website for more info on satellite orbits.  Look for a file
called: -->> spacetrk.PDF  and download it.  (You'11 need Acrobat reader,

At 07:00 PM 11/6/99 EST,  ka8qcu@juno.com wrote:
>Hi All,
>  While looking at some satellite orbits, I noticed that a lot of the
>polar orbiting birds are at a higher altitude than some of the lower
>inclination satellites. This got me wondering what are the standards for
>the different type of Low Earth Orbit birds. Is there some sort of
>international agreement? Or an  unwritten rule.
>When a corporation or organization (AMSAT) decides to put up a satellite,
>do they have to apply for a specific orbit?   
> If you're launching a satellite in polar orbit, are you restricted to a
>certain maximum and minimum altitude? And what about something  with an
>orbit like P3D? Is there some sort of minimum altitude at perigee ( aside
>from the mechanics of the orbit), that is required? I would think that
>there are some standards. Otherwise we'd have a few satellites crashing
>into one another.
> While I'm asking. Are there any satellites that have an inclination of
>say, more than 120 degrees?  Or should I say, are there any birds that
>orbit from east to west? I don't that much, but have never seen any.
> Well. I was just wondering .Any suggestions as to where I can find some
>more info?
> Thanks in advance. 73 de Doug ka8qcu
> ka8qcu@juno.com 
