The altitude of satellite orbits varies significantly depending on the intended mission profile, categorized primarily into three main zones. Low Earth Orbit extends from roughly 160 to 2,000 kilometers above the planet, utilized heavily for Earth observation and high-speed internet constellations. Medium Earth Orbit spans from 2,000 to approximately 35,000 kilometers, serving navigation satellite constellations like GPS. Finally, Geostationary Earth Orbit sits precisely at 35,786 kilometers directly above the equator, allowing satellites to match the Earth's rotational period and remain stationary relative to the ground.