LEOP
Pronunciation: LEE-op
Also written as: LEOP — Launch and Early Orbit Phase
Launch and Early Orbit Phase; the critical initial mission period during which a satellite is stabilised and commissioned after separation from the launch vehicle.
Full Definition
LEOP covers the period from satellite separation from the launch vehicle through initial acquisition, attitude stabilisation, solar-array and antenna deployment, and preliminary payload activation. It is the most operationally intensive phase of a satellite mission, requiring 24/7 ground station coverage and rapid command capability. Editors will encounter LEOP in mission operations plans, ground-station service agreements, and launch campaign documentation. The acronym is always capitalised; the full form uses 'Phase' with a capital P when part of an official document title. LEOP should not be confused with IOT (In-Orbit Testing), which follows it.
Usage
Usage note: Always all caps. Spell out on first use. Do not confuse with IOT, which is the testing phase that immediately follows LEOP.
In Context
- "Three geographically dispersed ground stations were contracted to ensure continuous coverage during LEOP." — Ground-station service agreement
- "The LEOP operations plan outlined contingency procedures for each critical event from separation to geostationary slot acquisition." — Mission operations plan