How is the total energy of a satellite conserved in an orbit?

At each point in the orbit, there is a variation in the kinetic and potential energy of the satellite. If one increases, the other one decreases. Similarly, if the other one increases, the first one decreases. But their amount of increment or decrement is such that the total sum i.e. mechanical ener

The minus sign in the formula indicates that:

• A gravitational force exists.
• The satellite cannot leave the orbit by itself.
• A minimum threshold of energy will be required to move the satellite from its existing orbit.