Satellite Q & A

Questions and answers about low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites

Q: What is a LEO satellite?

An LEO satellite is a satellite that orbits the Earth at an altitude of between 250 and 2,000 kilometres (155 and 1,243 miles). This is much lower than geostationary satellites, which orbit at an altitude of 35,786 kilometres (22,236 miles).

Q: What are the advantages of LEO satellites?

LEO satellites have several advantages over geostationary satellites, including:

• Lower latency: LEO satellites are closer to the Earth, so signals travel between the satellites and ground stations faster. This results in lower latency, which is important for applications such as online gaming and video calls.
• Better coverage: LEO satellites can provide better coverage in remote and underserved areas. This is because they are placed in large constellations, meaning there is almost always a satellite in view from any point on Earth.
• Lower cost: LEO satellites are less expensive to launch and operate than geostationary satellites, since they require less fuel to reach and maintain orbit.

Q: What are the disadvantages of LEO satellites?

One disadvantage of LEO satellites is that they have a shorter lifespan than geostationary satellites, largely because they experience more drag from the Earth's atmosphere. This is offset by the fact that they're less expensive to launch and operate, so ageing satellites are more readily replaced.

Another disadvantage is that LEO satellites require more ground stations and satellites overall to provide continuous coverage, since each satellite moves across the sky quickly and needs to hand off communications to the next one in the constellation frequently.

Q: What are some of the applications of LEO satellites?

LEO satellites are used for a variety of applications, including:

• Communications: LEO satellites are used to provide broadband internet access, mobile phone service, and other communication services, including services like Starlink.
• Earth observation: LEO satellites are used to collect images and data about the Earth's surface, useful for monitoring climate change, managing natural resources, and responding to disasters.
• Navigation: LEO and medium Earth orbit satellites are used to provide navigation services such as GPS.

Q: What are some of the challenges of LEO satellites?

One challenge of LEO satellites is the need to launch and maintain large constellations of satellites, which can be a costly and complex undertaking. Another is the technical challenge of enabling seamless handoffs between satellites and ground stations as satellites move overhead.

Overall, LEO satellites offer real advantages over geostationary satellites, including lower latency, better coverage, and lower cost, but they come with the trade-off of needing much larger, more complex constellations to maintain that coverage.

Q: What is the impact of LEO satellites on the environment?

LEO satellites have a lower impact on the environment than geostationary satellites in one specific respect: because they orbit at a lower altitude, where the Earth's atmosphere is thicker, they experience more drag. This causes them to deorbit and burn up in the atmosphere naturally at the end of their working life, rather than remaining as long-term space debris.

Q: What is the future of LEO satellites?

LEO satellites are expected to play a major role in the future of communications and Earth observation. LEO satellite constellations are already providing high-speed internet access to people in remote and underserved areas, including here in New Zealand, and this coverage continues to expand as more satellites are launched.

For New Zealand businesses and rural properties, LEO satellite technology, particularly Starlink, has become one of the most practical ways to get reliable internet where fibre and traditional broadband don't reach. Mobile Systems Limited supplies and installs Starlink as an authorised Pivotel and GMTS Group reseller partner. To learn more about how it works and what it costs, see our guide on how Starlink works, or get in touch with our team.