Which orbit type provides continuous coverage over a region?

• A. LEO
• B. MEO
• C. GEO
• D. HEO

Answer: (C)

Continuous coverage over a region comes when a satellite stays fixed in the sky relative to that region. That’s the defining feature of a geostationary orbit: it has an orbital period equal to the Earth's rotation and sits above the equator, so it appears to stay in the same position in the sky for observers at a given longitude. Because of this fixed ground track, service—whether communications, weather data, or observation—can be provided without gaps to that region.

In contrast, satellites in low Earth orbit move quickly across the sky, giving only short visibility windows over any one area; keeping continuous coverage would require a large, carefully coordinated constellation to hand off coverage as each satellite rises and sets. Medium Earth orbit can extend visibility compared to LEO, but the satellites still move relative to the ground, so continuous coverage from a single satellite isn’t possible. Highly elliptical orbits can cover a region for extended periods during part of their trajectory, but gaps occur as the satellite moves away or over different parts of the orbit.

So, the orbit type that best provides uninterrupted coverage over a region from a single satellite is the geostationary one.