text: what are the restrictions on the orbits of a communications satellite it is to appear motionless in the sky? what are the restrictions on the orbits of a communications satellite it is to appear motionless in the sky as viewed from any location on earth? 1. the satellite shud be in a geosynchronous orbit (abt. 36,000 kms above the earth's surface) bcoz at this height, the period of revolution of the satellite around the earth will be equal to the period of rotation of the earth about its own axis (around 1 day)  2. the satellite's orbit shud lie over the equator (only then it will appear to be motionless).