Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
Satellites in medium Earth orbit — home of the navigation constellations.
- BeiDouOperational
China's global navigation satellite system, using a mix of medium-Earth, geostationary, and inclined geosynchronous orbits.
OperatorCNSAOrbitMEOSize≈ 35 satellites across MEO, GEO, and inclined geosynchronous orbits - Galileo (navigation system)Operational
Europe's civil global navigation satellite system — owned by the EU and operated through EUSPA, with ESA as the design and procurement agent — offering high-accuracy positioning independent of GPS.
OperatorEuropean Union (EUSPA / ESA)OrbitMEOSize≈ 24 operational satellites plus spares - GLONASSOperational
Russia's global navigation satellite system, providing worldwide positioning and timing from medium Earth orbit.
OperatorRoscosmosOrbitMEOSize≈ 24 operational satellites - GPS (Global Positioning System)Operational
The United States' global navigation satellite system, providing worldwide positioning, navigation, and timing from medium Earth orbit.
OperatorUnited States Space ForceOrbitMEOSize≈ 31 operational satellites - O3bActive
SES's medium-Earth-orbit broadband constellation delivering low-latency connectivity to telecom, maritime, and enterprise customers between the tropics and beyond.
OperatorSESOrbitMEO - Telstar 1Retired
The first active communications satellite, which relayed the first transatlantic television signals in 1962.
OperatorAT&T / Bell LabsOrbitMEOLaunched1962 - Vanguard 1Retired (still in orbit)
An early U.S. technology and science satellite — the oldest human-made object still in orbit, and the first satellite to use solar cells.
OperatorU.S. Naval Research LaboratoryOrbitMEOLaunched1958