Which of the following orbits ensures that the satellite remains directly above a specific point on Earth's surface?

A geostationary orbit is one where a satellite orbits Earth at the same rotational speed as the planet. This means that it completes one full orbit in exactly 24 hours, which is the same time it takes Earth to complete one rotation on its axis. Consequently, a satellite in a geostationary orbit stays positioned over the same geographical point, appearing stationary relative to that point. This characteristic makes geostationary orbits particularly useful for applications such as weather monitoring, telecommunications, and broadcasting, as antennas on the ground can be fixed in place to communicate with these satellites without needing to track their movement across the sky.

In contrast, a polar orbit allows a satellite to pass over the entire surface of Earth by traveling from pole to pole, which means it constantly changes its position over the ground. An elliptical orbit varies in altitude and speed, resulting in the satellite also moving over different points on the Earth's surface. An equatorial orbit may hover over the equator but does not guarantee that the satellite remains above the same point on the ground, as its speed still varies relative to the Earth's rotation. Thus, only a geostationary orbit consistently maintains its position above a specific location on the Earth, making it the correct choice for this