What does the term LEO mean in reference to communication satellites?

LEO stands for Low Earth Orbit. Satellites in LEO operate at altitudes generally between 100 and 1,200 miles above the Earth's surface. This is much lower than geostationary satellites, which are parked tens of thousands of miles away. Because they are so close to Earth, LEO satellites must travel extremely fast to avoid being pulled back into the atmosphere by gravity. This high speed means they complete a full orbit around the Earth very quickly, typically in about 90 to 100 minutes. Distractors try to trick you by using other words that start with 'E', such as Energy, Elevation, or Equilibrium. In orbital mechanics and satellite communications, 'Earth' is the correct 'E' in LEO.