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Orbit type

Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)

Global navigation systems — GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou all fly in MEO.

OrbitAltitude: ≈ 2,000–35,786 kmOrbital period: hours

Overview

The band of orbits between low Earth orbit and the geostationary altitude. Its multi-hour periods and wide coverage make it ideal for navigation constellations, typically near 20,000 km.

Typical uses

Global navigation systems — GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou all fly in MEO.

Satellites in this orbit

7 satellites and constellations modelled in this orbit.

  • 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

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.

  • ESAEuropean Space Agency

    European missions, observatories, and space science imagery.