Sun Synchronous Satellite Images

A sun synchronous orbit is useful for imaging spy and weather satellites because every time that the satellite is overhead the surface illumination angle on the planet underneath it will be nearly the same.

Sun synchronous satellite images.

The satellite passes over a given location on earth every time at the same local solar time. The most common type are earth imaging satellites that take satellite images analogous to aerial photographs. Sun synchronous orbit altitude of 504 5 km inclination of 97 468º. It is sun synchronous which means that the satellite always passes the same point on earth at the same local time.

Thus it guarantees the same illumination condition which varies only with seasons. These satellites orbit at an altitude between 700 to 800 km. Orbit of passenger payloads. Watch the farearth observer to see what landsat sees live.

The satellite has a 16 day repeat cycle with an equatorial crossing time. If you live near the equator landsat 8 will pass high above your head at 10 00 am in the morning every 16th day to image your neighbourhood. Superview 1 satellite sensor image credit. The orbit is quasi polar in nature and so ensures coverage of the whole surface of the earth.

As a satellite in a near polar sun synchronous orbit revolves around the earth the satellite crosses the equator at approximately the same local sun time every day. The hysis minisatellite in deployed configuration image credit. This consistent lighting is a useful characteristic for satellites that image the earth s surface in visible or infrared wavelengths such as weather and spy satellites. An earth observation satellite or earth remote sensing satellite is a satellite used or designed for earth observation eo from orbit including spy satellites and similar ones intended for non military uses such as environmental monitoring meteorology map making and others.

A satellite in a sun synchronous orbit would usually be at an altitude of between 600 to 800 km. Liftoff of the pslv c43 vehicle from from sdsc image credit. Features of sun synchronous orbits. At 800 km it will be travelling at a speed of approximately 7 5 km per second.

These orbits are used for satellites that need a constant amount of sunlight. Satellites that take pictures of the earth would work best with bright sunlight. Because of the orbital velocity all other points on the globe are passed either slightly before or after this time. Landsat 8 orbits the the earth in a sun synchronous near polar orbit at an altitude of 705 km 438 mi inclined at 98 2 degrees and completes one earth orbit every 99 minutes.

Sun synchronous orbits these orbits allows a satellite to pass over a section of the earth at the same time of day.