Satellite Glossary

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• leader

Non-magnetic strips of tape (either paper or plastic) at the beginning and end of film.

• letterbox format

The ratio of width to height (the aspect ratio) needed to show widescreen movies at dimensions that fit a TV screen.

• locked in

A videotape or other recorder that is moving at its regular speed and is ready to accept a feed.

• locking up

The brief period when a videocassette wobbles as it starts to play before it stabilizes and runs smoothly.

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

Satellites in low Earth orbit travel about 17,500 miles per hour, about a thousand kilometers above the Earth's surface. They can circle the Earth in about an hour and a half.