Polar orbit

Polar orbit

A polar orbit is an orbit in which a satellite passes above or nearly above both poles of the body (usually a planet such as the Earth, but possibly another body such as the Sun) being orbited on each revolution. It therefore has an inclination of (or very close to) 90 degrees to the equator. Except in the special case of a polar geosynchronous orbit, a satellite in a polar orbit will pass over the equator at a different longitude on each of its orbits.

Polar orbits are often used for earth-mapping-, earth observation- and reconnaissance satellites, as well as some weather satellites. The disadvantage to this orbit is that no one spot on the Earth's surface can be sensed continuously from a satellite in a polar orbit.

A satellite can hover over one polar area a large part of the time, albeit at a large distance, using a polar highly elliptical orbit with its apogee above that area. This is the principle behind a Molniya orbit.

ee also

*Iridium (satellite)
*List of orbits
*Vandenberg AFB Major United States launch location for polar orbits.

External links

* [http://www.braeunig.us/space/orbmech.htm Orbital Mechanics] (Rocket and Space Technology)


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