An American communications satellite operated by TerreStar Corporation. Constructed by SSL is provides mobile communications to North America, and at the time of its launch was the larest commercial communications satellite ever built. It operates in geostationary orbit at 111 degrees West.
Geostationary Transfer OrbitLRO is the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA. Used to map the moon to identify safe landing sites, locating potential resources, characterizing the radiation environment and demonstrating new technologies. The LCROSS is the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, also for NASA. A low cost satellite in order to confirm the existance of water in the southern lunar crater, Cabeus.
Lunar OrbitSoyuz TMA-15 begins Expedition 20 by carrying 3 astronauts and cosmonauts to the International Space Station. Russian Commander, cosmonaut Roman Romanenko alongside Flight Engineers, Frank De Winne (ESA) & Robert Thirsk (CSA) will launch aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and then rendezvous with the station. It landed on December 1, 2009, 07:17 UTC
Low Earth Orbit