What is "low earth orbit"

n. A satellite orbit around the Earth within the altitude range of 200 - 2000 km, in which a satellite can communicate with Earth with a small time lag and energy consumption. ''Abbreviation:'' LEO.

A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit around Earth with an altitude between ( orbital period of about 88 minutes), and (about 127 minutes). Objects below approximately will experience very rapid orbital decay and altitude loss. The orbital velocity needed to maintain a stable low Earth orbit is about 7.8 km/s, but reduces with increased orbital altitude.

With the exception of the manned lunar flights of the Apollo program, all human spaceflights have taken place in LEO (or were suborbital). The International Space Station conducts operations in LEO. The altitude record for a human spaceflight in LEO was Gemini 11 with an apogee of . All manned space stations to date, as well as the majority of satellites, have been in LEO.