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An orbit that passes over the Earth's poles, allowing coverage of the entire planet as the Earth rotates. Used primarily for Earth observations and reconnaissance. Examples: NOAA series, Iridium satellites.

An orbit at an altitude of 2,000-35,786 km, suitable for navigation and communications. Offers a balance between coverage area and delay. Examples: GPS satellites, GLONASS satellites.

An orbit with a significantly non-circular shape, allowing satellites to spend most of their time over a particular area of the Earth, typically beneficial for communications and observation satellites. Examples: Inmarsat satellites, some Russian communication satellites.

An orbit close to the Earth's surface (altitude: 160-2,000 km), minimizing communication delay and fuel requirements for satellites. Used for earth observation, spy, and some communications satellites. Examples: Hubble Space Telescope, ISS.

A highly elliptical geosynchronous orbit with a high inclination, allowing a satellite to spend a large portion of its orbit over the Northern Hemisphere. Used for communications. Example satellites include Sirius XM Radio satellites.

An orbit with a period matching the Earth's rotational period, but not necessarily equatorial, allowing the satellite to return to the same point daily. Used for communication and spy satellites. Examples: Syncom 3, Molniya orbit satellites.

An orbit where the satellite has an oval-shaped path around the Earth, characterized by varying altitude and speed throughout its course. Used for various purposes depending upon eccentricity and orientation. Examples would vary widely but include certain scientific and military satellites.

A highly elliptical orbit with a high inclination of 63.4 degrees, designed to provide long periods of high visibility over high latitudes. Used for communications and monitoring. Examples: The original Soviet/Russian Molniya satellites.

An orbit that keeps the satellite over the same point on the Earth's equator at all times (altitude: 35,786 km). Ideal for weather and communication satellites. Examples: GOES, DirecTV satellites.