Low Earth orbit

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/low-earth-orbit

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the minimum orbital velocity?Approximately 7.8 km/s (17,500 mph) required to maintain orbit
2. What is the typical orbital period?Around 90 minutes for a complete revolution around Earth
3. What is Low Earth Orbit and how high is it above Earth?Low Earth Orbit, or LEO, is the space band that starts about 160 kilometers (100 miles) above the sea and goes up to around 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).
4. Why do satellites in LEO travel so fast?Satellites need to go about 7.8 kilometers per second (17,500 miles per hour) so that gravity pulls them toward Earth while their sideways speed keeps them from falling straight down.

Orbital Decay: The gradual decrease in altitude of an orbiting object due to atmospheric drag or other forces.
Space Debris: Man-made objects in orbit that are no longer functional, posing collision risks.
Constellation: A group of artificial satellites working together, often for communication or observation purposes.