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darkar
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Why must geostationary orbit at the equatorial plane?
A geostationary orbit is a circular orbit around the Earth at an altitude of approximately 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) above the equator. This orbit has the same rotational period as the Earth, so the satellite appears to be stationary from a point on the Earth's surface.
The geostationary orbit is located on the equatorial plane because it aligns with the Earth's rotation. This allows the satellite to maintain a fixed position above a specific point on the Earth's surface.
One advantage of using a geostationary orbit is that it allows for continuous communication with a ground station since the satellite appears to be stationary. This is useful for telecommunications, weather monitoring, and other Earth observation activities.
One disadvantage of using a geostationary orbit is that it is only possible to maintain this orbit above the equator, limiting coverage to areas near the equator. This can also lead to signal interference due to the large number of satellites in this orbit.
A geostationary orbit is a type of geosynchronous orbit that is located on the equatorial plane. A geosynchronous orbit, on the other hand, can be located at any inclination and still have a period that matches the Earth's rotation. This means that a geosynchronous orbit does not necessarily have to be above the equator and can cover a larger area of the Earth's surface.