low earth orbit
noun
: a usually circular orbit from about 90 to 600 miles (about 140 to 970 kilometers) above the earth
Examples of low earth orbit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The company is also betting that as more commercial space ventures begin flying to the moon in partnership with NASA, deliveries to and from the surface will become more common, the way SpaceX now flies crew and cargo to the International Space Station in low earth orbit.
—
Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Researchers are concerned that more explosions or breakups could accelerate the Kessler Syndrome—a runaway chain reaction of orbital collisions that could render low earth orbit (LEO) hostile to almost any spacecraft.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Oct. 2019
Amazon plans to launch over 3,000 satellites into low earth orbit.
—Steve Mollman, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2023
Launching a kilogram payload to low earth orbit (LEO) currently costs at least $3000.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Apr. 2018
SpaceX’s Starlink—which uses numerous low earth orbit satellites to provide connectivity through backpack-sized ground stations—became indispensable for Ukrainian military communications.
—Michael Peck, Popular Mechanics, 29 Mar. 2023
The Pentagon's best assessment at the moment is that the balloon's surveillance capabilities are not a significant step up from what China is likely able to collect through other means like satellites in low earth orbit, according to a senior defense official.
—CBS News, 2 Feb. 2023
Some estimates show there could be more than 100,000 satellites in low earth orbit by 2030.
—Bret Baier, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2023
Many of these constellations are aimed at low earth orbit.
—Kelsey D. Atherton, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2023
Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Researchers are concerned that more explosions or breakups could accelerate the Kessler Syndrome—a runaway chain reaction of orbital collisions that could render low earth orbit (LEO) hostile to almost any spacecraft.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Oct. 2019
Amazon plans to launch over 3,000 satellites into low earth orbit.
—Steve Mollman, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2023
Launching a kilogram payload to low earth orbit (LEO) currently costs at least $3000.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Apr. 2018
SpaceX’s Starlink—which uses numerous low earth orbit satellites to provide connectivity through backpack-sized ground stations—became indispensable for Ukrainian military communications.
—Michael Peck, Popular Mechanics, 29 Mar. 2023
The Pentagon's best assessment at the moment is that the balloon's surveillance capabilities are not a significant step up from what China is likely able to collect through other means like satellites in low earth orbit, according to a senior defense official.
—CBS News, 2 Feb. 2023
Some estimates show there could be more than 100,000 satellites in low earth orbit by 2030.
—Bret Baier, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2023
Many of these constellations are aimed at low earth orbit.
—Kelsey D. Atherton, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'low earth orbit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Low earth orbit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/low%20earth%20orbit. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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