Sun-synchronous orbit

Diagram showing the orientation of a Sun-synchronous orbit (green) at four points in the year. A non-Sun-synchronous orbit (magenta) is also shown for reference. Dates are shown in white: day/month.

A Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), also called a heliosynchronous orbit,[1] is a nearly polar orbit around a planet, in which the satellite passes over any given point of the planet's surface at the same local mean solar time.[2][3] More technically, it is an orbit arranged so that it precesses through one complete revolution each year, so it always maintains the same relationship with the Sun.

  1. ^ Tscherbakova, N. N.; Beletskii, V. V.; Sazonov, V. V. (1999). "Stabilization of heliosynchronous orbits of an Earth's artificial satellite by solar pressure". Cosmic Research. 37 (4): 393–403. Bibcode:1999KosIs..37..417S. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  2. ^ "SATELLITES AND ORBITS" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Types of Orbits". marine.rutgers.edu. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2017.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search