This application provides a satellite communication method and an apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a terminal device, first information sent by a satellite, where the first information is used to indicate a first timing change rate range; measuring and obtaining, by the terminal device, a first downlink timing change rate; determining a first uplink timing change rate based on the first downlink timing change rate and the first timing change rate range; and performing uplink communication with the satellite based on the first uplink timing change rate. The method can effectively resolve a problem of uplink timing drift and improve uplink performance.