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Definition

Highly Elliptical Orbit

HEO

An orbit with high eccentricity, providing long dwell times over specific regions at apogee. Molniya and Tundra orbits are common HEO types for high-latitude coverage.

Related terms

Geostationary OrbitGEO

A circular orbit at approximately 35,786 km altitude with zero inclination and an orbital period matching Earth's rotati...

Ground Segment

The collection of ground-based systems that support a space mission, including ground stations, mission control centers,...

Inclination

The angle between the orbital plane and the equatorial plane. Determines the range of latitudes the spacecraft ground tr...

International Traffic in Arms RegulationsITAR

US regulations controlling the export and import of defense-related articles, services, and technical data. Most spacecr...

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