Final answer:
Satellite acceleration is greatest at perigee, the point of its orbit closest to Earth, due to the conservation of angular momentum and gravitational forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acceleration of a satellite is greatest when it is at perigee, which is the point in its orbit where it is closest to the Earth. This is due to the conservation of angular momentum which dictates that a satellite will move fastest at the closest approach in its elliptical orbit because the gravitational potential energy is at its lowest (most negative) and hence the kinetic energy is at its highest. Additionally, per Newton's law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force acting on the satellite, and consequently the acceleration, is inversely related to the square of the distance between the satellite and the Earth, leading to greater acceleration at perigee compared to apogee.