Near Orbit
Near orbit (synonyms: in near orbit, close orbit, low earth orbit) is a general location commonly used in fictional worlds that surrounds a planet and is above the skies. Near orbit may contain spaceships, Kessler belts, orbital rings, teleportation gates, planetary shields, or satellite networks. Massive objects or megastructures in near orbit may be visible from the surface of a planet. Near orbit is home to aliens, dropship space marines, and contemplative superheroes.
| Types of Orbit |
|---|
| Geosynchronous Orbit: An orbit that keeps the satellite or object above the same relative location on the planet below. |
| Circular Orbit: An orbit whose path traces a circle. |
| Elliptic Orbit: An orbit whose path traces an ellipse. |
| Closed Orbit (periodic orbit): An orbit whose path repeats itself. |
| Open Orbit (escape orbit): an orbit that will result in the object either crashing into the planet below or escaping its’ gravitational pull. |
| Parking Orbit: A temporary orbit. |
| Decaying Orbit: An orbit that causes an object to slowly crash into the planet below. |
| Graveyard Orbit (junk orbit): An orbit where satellites are moved to at the end of their functional lives. |
Objects in different orbits offer worldbuilders a plethora of narrative options, from rescuing a ship, astronauts, or treasure in decaying orbit to secretly salvaging useful material from a graveyard orbit.