EarthObservation and Measurement |
From what distance are satellite photographs taken? |
U.S. Department of Defense satellites orbit at various distances above Earth. Some satellites are in low orbit, 100 to 300 miles (160 to 483 kilometers) above the surface, while others are positioned at intermediate altitudes from 500 to 1,000 miles (804 to 1,609 kilometers) high. Some have an altitude of 22,300 miles (35,880 kilometers).