Communications satellite of a GEO satellite. Like LEOs, these satellites don’t maintain a stationary distance from the earth. This is in contrast to the geostationary orbit, where satellites are always approximately from the earth. Typically the orbit of a medium earth orbit satellite is about above earth. In various patterns, these satellites make the trip around earth in anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. In 1962, the first communications satellite, Telstar, was launched. It was a medium earth orbit satellite designed to help facilitate high-speed telephone signals. Although it was the first practical way to transmit signals over the horizon, its major
Kosmos (satellite) March 1962 at 12:00:00 UTC. Orbital mass 285 kg. It was the first satellite of the Soviet Earth Satellite series. Employed radio instruments in order to study the structure of the ionosphere. Kosmos 2, also known as Sputnik 12, was launched on 6 April 1962 at 17:16:00 UTC. Orbital mass 285 kg. It was the second satellite of the Soviet Earth Satellite series. Employed radio instruments in order to study the structure of the ionosphere. Kosmos 3, also known as Sputnik 13, was launched on 24 April 1962 at 04:04:00 UTC. Orbital mass 330 kg. It belongs to the Soviet