SYNCHRONOUS ORBIT

A satellite orbit where the orbital period is equal to, or multiples of, the Earth’s rotational period; i.e. making one, two, three, etc., orbits in a 24-hour period. Examples include geosynchronous (period equals Earth’s rotation), semisynchronous (two orbits per day); and geostationary (geosynchronous orbit where satellite maintains a fixed position on the equator). See also sun-synchronous orbit. (JP 3-14)