Sun Synchronous Orbit

Following are the benefits or advantages of Sun synchronous orbit: ➨The orbit is designed in such a way that angle between orbital plane and sun remains constant resulting into consistent lighting conditions. ➨The satellites in this orbit can help in monitoring activities near the poles unlike other satellites. Sun-synchronous orbit. An orbit in which the satellite's orbital plane is at a fixed orientation to the sun, i.e., the orbit precesses about the earth at the same rate that the earth orbits the sun. It has the characteristics of maintaining similar sun angles along its ground trace for all orbits, and typically has an inclination from 96 to 98. A sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), also called a heliosynchronous orbit, 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. More technically, it is an orbit arranged so that it precesses through one compl. This video illustrates the principle of Sun-synchronous orbits used by EUMETSAT's Metop satellites. The satellite's orbital plane is indicated by the red tor. The geosynchronous orbit (synchronous orbit of the Earth) is at an altitude of 35,796 km (≈ 36,000 km) and has a semi-major axis of 42,167 km. Excel formula used in this table to calculate the altitude of the satellite in synchronous orbit of the planet: = ((((G.M.T^2)/ (4.PI ^2))^ (1/3))-R.1000)/1000.

Sun Synchronous Orbit Calculator
Sun Synchronous Orbit Altitude
Sun Synchronous Orbit Beta Angle
Sun-synchronous Orbit

Advantages of Sun synchronous orbit | disadvantages of Sun synchronous orbit

This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Sun synchronous orbit and its basics.It mentions benefits or advantages of Sun synchronous orbit and drawbacks or disadvantages of Sun synchronous orbit.

What is Sun synchronous orbit?

Introduction:
An earth satellite orbit in which the orbital plane is near polar and the altitude is such thatsatellite passes over all places on earth having same latitude twice in each orbit at the same local suntime.This orbit lies at a altitude between 700 to 800 Km above the Earth.

The satellite in this orbit shift its orbital plane by approx. one degree/day.Satellites put in this orbit cover each area of the world at a constant local time of the day called local sun time.

Benefits or advantages of Sun synchronous orbit

Following are the benefits or advantages of Sun synchronous orbit:
➨The orbit is designed in such a way that angle between orbital plane and sun remains constantresulting into consistent lighting conditions.
➨The satellites in this orbit can help in monitoring activities near the poles unlike other satellites.
➨The Sun synchronous orbiting satellites cover entire globe on regular basis and provides repetitive coverage on periodic basis.Satellite passes over all places on earth having same latitude twice in each orbit at the same local suntime.
➨Low altitude of this orbit allows good ground resolution.
➨It offers easy active measurements with the help of Radar or using Lidar.

Drawbacks or disadvantages of Sun synchronous orbit

Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of Sun synchronous orbit:
➨The satellite launched in this orbit can not view a particular spot on the Earth's surface continuously.This is done by geosynchronous orbiting satellite.
➨For weather forecasting the use of polar orbiting satellite data is limited unlike Geosynchronous orbiting satellite.
➨Sun synchronous orbiting satellite passes over polar parts on every orbital period which is 2 times a day where asgeosynchronous orbiting satellite orbital period is approx. 24 hours. Hence Geosynchronous satellite can view a particular spot on the Earth's surface continuously.

Conclusion: In order to understand advantages of Sun synchronous orbit and disadvantages of Sun synchronous orbit one has to understandSun synchronous orbit basics >>.

Satellite related links

To know more about satellite go through following mentioned links:
Satellite tutorialwhat is a satelliteSatellite frequency bands of operationParts of a satelliteSatellite OrbitsSatellite ServicesSatellite typesSatellite Capacity AllocationSatellite Network ConfigurationSatellite ApplicationsSatellite TerminologySatellite ApplicationsSatellite Launch ProcedureRemote sensing satellitesSatellite TTCSatellite Launch Service ProvidersSatellite Parts Manufacturers

Advantages and Disadvantages of other wireless technologies

What is Difference between

difference between OFDM and OFDMA
Difference between SC-FDMA and OFDM
Difference between SISO and MIMO
Difference between TDD and FDD
FDMA vs TDMA vs CDMA
FDM vs TDM
CDMA vs GSM

RF and Wireless Terminologies