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#1 2025-08-22 11:13:55
- tahanson43206
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- Registered: 2018-04-27
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Earth Geosynchronous Orbit
The geosynchronous Orbit around Earth has the valuable property that objects placed in this orbit remain stationary (within a range) with respect to the surface. This topic is offered for NewMars members who might like to contribute to a collection of knowledge about this particular orbit, or to understanding of how it might be used to advantage in future Mars (or Earth) related projects.
Post #3 of this series will include a summary by Google, including the orbital velocity of objects in that orbit.
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#2 2025-08-22 11:14:38
- tahanson43206
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Re: Earth Geosynchronous Orbit
This post is reserved for an index to posts that may be contributed by NewMars members.
Index:
Post #3: Summary by Google
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#3 2025-08-22 11:18:20
- tahanson43206
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Re: Earth Geosynchronous Orbit
This post contains a brief summary of Geosynchronous Orbit.
Per Google:
AI Overview
What is a geosynchronous orbit? | SpaceThe horizontal velocity of an object in geosynchronous orbit around Earth is approximately 3.07 km/s. This speed allows the satellite to match Earth's rotation, staying above the same point on the surface, but it is relative to the Earth's surface.
Here's why:
Geosynchronous Orbit:
This is an orbit that has a period of one sidereal day, matching Earth's rotation.Altitude:
For a satellite to be geosynchronous (and specifically geostationary if it's also circular and equatorial), it must be at a specific altitude ofabout 35,786 km above Earth's equator.
Orbital Speed:
To achieve this matching period, the satellite must travel at a specific speed.Speed vs. Velocity:
The velocity includes both speed and direction. In a geosynchronous orbit, the speed is roughly constant, but the direction of velocity is constantly changing as the satellite orbits.Reference Frame:
The 3.07 km/s
figure is the speed relative to a non-rotating Earth (a specific reference frame).
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#4 2025-08-22 16:57:30
- Calliban
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- Registered: 2019-08-18
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Re: Earth Geosynchronous Orbit
GEO is getting increasingly crowded. Given the need to maintain distance between satellites, we may reach a point where there is no more room for new satellites without removing old ones. This may ultimately be solved by installing an orbital ring at GEO. Satellites can be bolted to this ring without need for station keeping or seperation from other satellites. A ring would greatly increase the capacity of GEO.
"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."
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#5 2025-08-22 18:45:32
- Void
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- Registered: 2011-12-29
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Re: Earth Geosynchronous Orbit
I think that unless fusion rocket propulsion proves better, a sensible thing might be to add a 3rd stage to Starship, and to also utilize electric rocket propulsion to communicate mass between LEO and Earth Geosynchronous Orbit. And there could be very large platforms up there even eventually a ring. The large platforms could be in part made from Starships.
That is one possible path.
Ending Pending 
Is it possible that the root of political science claims is to produce white collar jobs for people who paid for an education and do not want a real job?
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