On Tue, 29 Dec 1998, Christopher M. Hudson wrote:
> To define the terms used above:
> Geosynchronous: the satellite is stationed above the equator and orbits the
> earth once every 24 hours. So, from earth, the satellite appears to
> remain in the same spot all the time.
Strictly speaking, I'd call that definition 'geostationary'.
You don't have to be geostationary to be geosynchronous. A groundpath
periodically repeating every 24 hours is all that's needed for
synchronicity with the earth's surface. Being geostationary is merely
the popular subset, and the terms are frequently confused.
Apart from 24-hour circular orbits with non-zero inclinations forming
figure-of-8 groundtracks (which often happens when a geostationary
satellite runs out of station-keeping fuel at the end of its
lifetime), molnya and tundra orbits have always looked geosynchronous
to me.
L.
is now wondering how many popular non-technical dictionaries will
claim they're synonyms and disagree with him. Don't ask Encarta.
<[email protected]>PGP<http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/L.Wood/>
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