Time delay for a signal from Earth to a Satelite in geostationary orbit and back
Description
A geostationary orbit, geostationary Earth orbit or geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO), is an orbit whose position in the sky remains the same for a stationary observer on earth. For ground stations on the same meridian as the satellite, the time taken for a signal to pass from Earth to the satellite and back again can be computed using the cosine rule, given the geostationary orbital radius , the Earth’s radius and the speed of light.
(Geostationary satellites are directly overhead at the Equator, and become lower in the sky the further north or south one travels. As the observer’s latitude increases, communication becomes more difficult due to factors such as atmospheric refraction,)
Variables
Δt | Time taken for a signal to pass from Earth to the satellite and back again (sec) |
c | Speed of light |
R | Earth' s radius ( 6.371.000 m) (m) |
r | The orbital radius (the distance from the centre of the Earth) (m) |
ϕ | Latitude (degree) |