GTO (Geostationary Transfer Orbit)

A Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) is a highly elliptical orbit with a perigee typically near 200–300 km and an apogee at or near 35,786 km (GEO altitude). Rockets launch payloads into GTO, and the satellite's own propulsion then circularises the orbit at GEO altitude with a second burn at apogee. GTO is a special case of a Hohmann transfer. The delta-v required from LEO to GTO is approximately 2.5 km/s, and the circularisation burn at GEO adds roughly 1.5 km/s.