1) Communication considerations:
i) Type of service to be provided
ii) Communication capacity
iii) Coverage area
iv)   Technological limitations
 2) Environmental Conditions:
Different environmental conditions are encountered by a satellite during its mission. Some of them are mentioned below:

 (i)Zero Gravity:
In geostationary earth orbit, effect of earth’s gravity is negligible thus making the “zero gravity” effect.
Disadvantage: This causes a problem for liquids to flow.  Thus an external provision has to be made to force the liquids to flow.
Advantage: Absence of gravity leads to operation of deployment mechanism used for stowing antennas and solar panels during the launch.
(ii) Atmospheric pressure and temperature:
At geostationary earth orbit, atmospheric pressure is very low, thus making the thermal conditions negligible which further leads to the increase in friction between surfaces. Thus additional lubricants are required to keep the satellite parts in motion.
(iii)  Space Particles:
Besides planets, natural and artificial satellites, many other particles like cosmic rays, protons, electrons, meteoroids and manmade space debris exists in space. These particles collide with the satellites causing permanent damage to it and sometimes degrading the solar cells.
(iv)  Magnetic  Fields:
Due to the magnetic field of earth, charged particles which are trapped in the surrounding region of the earth get deflected. This effect is more seen in the layers around the equator where the magnetic power of the earth is of maximum effect. This region is called the Van Allen’s Belt. Even though satellites in geostationary earth orbit are not really affected by the earth’s magnetic field, they have to pass through the Van Allen’s belt during orbit raising (launching). The electric charges present in this belt affect the electronic components against radiation. To overcome this effect, large coils are used by satellites.