- basic operation
- type of data received
- distance from the Eart h
- orbit location
- spacecraft velocity
- reception
- RF signal
- processed data rate
- signal availability
- image format
AN S W E R KE Y, CO M PA R AT I V E
RE V I E W O F SAT E L L I T E S
Geostationary Polar-orbiter
Two satellite system covers
area from North to South
America, from Pacific to
Atlantic locations
visual and infrared
35,790km (22,240 miles)
Clarke Belt over Equator
GOES East, 75° West
GOES West, 135° West
6800 MPH (24 hour period)
Dish (4 meter +)
1691 + MHz
(to down converter)
240 lines/minute -
4 lines/second
24 hours
24 hour period
Hemisphere/Quadrants
Two satellites in Polar orbit
at all times:
N to S (morning satellite)
S to N (afternoon satellite)
Day: visual and infrared
Night: infrared
833 km (518 miles) AM
orbit, southbound
870 km (541 miles) PM
orbit, northbound
N>S, S>N,
Sun-synchronous
17,000 mph
(101 minute period)
Omni directional or
quadrifilar helix antenna
137–138 MHz
120 lines/minute -
2 lines/second
101 to 102 minutes
between accessibility,
two satellites each
view entire Earth at
least twice daily
1,700 Mile Swath
