Low-Earth Orbit Explained: Key Insights into Earth’s Closest Space Frontier

When imagining space, we often see a singular, monolithic expanse of darkness. In reality, it’s a layered realm, full of celestial bodies such as planets, asteroids, and satellites. One way to make sense of this immense body is by an object’s orbital proximity to Earth. These orbital layers — Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geo-Stationary Orbit (GEO) — are defined by their distance from the Earth and play different roles in space use and exploration.

At Spacecoin, we chose LEO to deploy blockchain-based satellite internet infrastructure for one clear reason: it’s the most suitable option for connecting the 2.6 billion unconnected people worldwide. To understand why, let’s examine the three orbital distances and why LEO is uniquely suited for bridging the digital divide.

Low-Earth Orbit

LEO, as the name suggests, is the closest orbital zone to Earth, ranging from about 160 to 2,000 kilometres (100–1,200 miles) above the planet’s surface.

The proximity to the Earth is the reason this region is teeming with satellites focused on communications, scientific research and imaging. This is also the area where the International Space Station orbits the Earth.

LEO is a low-latency region, meaning the signal from this region reaches Earth in about 20 milliseconds. As a result, LEO is perfect for applications such as video calls and financial transactions that need real-time, high-speed data. LEO also emerges as the perfect orbital region for Spacecoin to create a constellation of nanosatellites to provide 5G coverage to underserved regions, including emerging markets.

Satellites in LEO are constantly being pulled by the Earth’s gravitational force. To counter it, they move incredibly quickly, completing an orbit in roughly 90 minutes. LEO satellites provide network coverage over smaller areas, making them well suited for coverage over specific regions such as those underserved by existing services

Medium Earth Orbit

MEO occupies a middle ground between LEO and GEO, typically at an altitude of 2,000 to 35,786 kilometers (1,200–22,236 miles). Satellites in this orbit, such as those in the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation, balance latency and coverage. MEO satellites provide broader coverage than LEO, though they lack LEO’s latency and speed advantages.

Geostationary Orbit

GEO satellites are stationed precisely at 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) above Earth, where their orbital speed matches Earth’s rotation. This allows them to remain fixed over a single location on the planet.

While GEO satellites are excellent for broadcasting applications like television and weather monitoring, they suffer from significant latency due to their distance from Earth. This makes them less suitable for high-speed or real-time communication needs.

Why LEO is Ideal for Spacecoin’s Small Satellites

At Spacecoin, we chose LEO for our satellite constellation because it offers the most compelling advantages for blockchain-based connectivity.

• Latency and Speed: The lower latency of LEO satellites is essential for blockchain operations, where speed and real-time transactions are critical. Compared to GEO satellites, which have latencies of 500 milliseconds or more, LEO systems feel almost instantaneous.
• Resilient Global Coverage: LEO constellations involve deploying hundreds or thousands of satellites to blanket the Earth, ensuring reliable service even in remote or underserved areas. This adaptability is key for connecting rural communities and supporting a global user base.
• Lower Launch Costs: The cost of launching satellites in LEO is dramatically lower than in other orbits for two reasons. First, satellites can be deployed in LEO on smaller rockets that need less energy and fuel due to its proximity to the Earth. Second, smaller satellites such as CubeSats and nanosats are easier and cheaper to produce and launch. These satellites can also be deployed in large batches, enabling Spacecoin to scale its network rapidly and reach more users.

By leveraging LEO’s advantages, Spacecoin is building a decentralized, blockchain-powered satellite network to empower communities with high-speed internet access.

The Future of Spacecoin in LEO

Spacecoin’s mission is to Connect the Unconnected and deploying our small-satellite constellation in LEO will help us achieve it. Our satellites are more than just hardware components; they are a tool to bridge the digital divide and bring the appropriate financial services to the underserved via blockchain innovation.

As we near the deployment of our first satellite, CTC-0, in LEO, we are excited to lay the foundations of a connected future. Learn more about the inaugural launch of Spacecoin’s CTC-0 by following us on X or taking a deep dive into the Spacecoin whitepaper.