Satellite Glossary

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• generation

In films and tapes, the master, or original, is called the first generation. Any copy made from the master is called second generation, or a copy, dupe, or dub, and a copy of a second-generation dupe is third generation.

• gain

A measure of amplification, expressed in decibels.

• Geostationary Orbit (GEO) Also: geosynchronous orbit.

Satellites circle the Earth in 24 hours, the same time it takes the Earth to rotate once. Once placed over the equator, they follow the Earth's rotation and appear continuously over a certain spot at 22,282 miles from the surface. They are high enough so that it takes only three satellites to cover the Earth's surface, except for the parts near the north and south poles.

• gigahertz (GHz)

One billion cycles per second.