A low Earth orbit (LEO) is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km. Given the rapid orbital decay of objects below approximately 200 km, the commonly accepted definition for LEO is between 160 - 2,000 km (100 - 1,240 miles) above the Earth's surface.[1][2]
With the exception of the lunar flights of the Apollo program, all human spaceflights have been either in LEO or have been sub-orbital. The altitude record for a human spaceflight in LEO was Gemini 11 with an apogee of 1,374.1 km.
DieselWreaths Across America
Subject: Low Earth orbit 
Fri Oct 22, 2010 10:26 pm