Proof Point
Majority (62%) of operational satellites as of August 2017 are in low earth orbit (LEO), followed by geostationary (GEO) satellites with 31%, based on UCS data
Operational Satellites According to Orbit Level
2017 (number and percentage)
Proof Point Findings
- Operating Satellites – Satellites actively orbiting Earth and currently in use by commercial, military, government, and civil organizations
- Low Earth Orbit (LEO) – Low Earth Orbit satellites, or satellites positioned at altitudes between 200 and 1,200 kilometers above Earth’s surface, comprise 62% of operational satellites as of August 2017, according to data from Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), with most used for Earth observation and communications
- Geostationary Orbit (GEO) – Geostationary Orbit satellites, or satellites that orbit once per day in synchronized pattern as Earth and are positioned on equator, make up 31% of active satellites, and are mostly used for communications and navigation or global positioning
- Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) – Medium Earth Orbit satellites, or satellites at altitudes 1,200 to 35,790 kilometers above Earth, comprise 6% of operational satellites, mostly for navigation or global positioning
- Elliptical Orbit – Elliptical satellites, or satellites that orbit in different distances to Earth based on elliptical pattern, are just 2% of operational satellites, and mostly comprised of government and military units
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Accelerator |
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Sector |
Government (excluding military), Information Technology, Military and Security
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Source |
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Date Last Updated |
October 10, 2018
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