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Geostationary satellites get their name thanks to the orbiting path they take. They orbit the earth circling the equator, at an altitude of 23, 237 miles. Their orbit is equal to the rotational period of the earth - meaning they orbit the earth in a 24-hour period. Consequently, geostationary orbit is most commonly used for communications and weather satellites.
There are approximately two hundred satellites located in geostationary orbit. Each satellite is placed in a position that gives it a very broad view of the earth, almost one-third of the earth's service. This means that you can have entire global coverage with a minimum of three satellites in orbit.
Signals take about a quarter of a second to complete a round trip from the earth, to the satellite and then back to the earth again.
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