Satellites in low-Earth orbit play a key role in helping us study and understand our planet. Orbiting at altitudes usually between 100 and 1200 miles (160 and 2,000 kilometers), these satellites are close enough to capture high-resolution data while moving fast enough to scan multiple areas of Earth within a few hours to a few days.
Using these satellites, scientists can monitor natural phenomena like wildfires, storms, volcanoes, and more, as well as study the effects of climate change on hard-to-access places like the Artic or Antarctica.
