ESS124
Prof.
Jin-Yi Yu
Satellites
•Satellites are found in two types of
orbits: geostationary orbits and low Earth orbits.
•A
satellite in a "Geo Synchronous" orbit hovers over one spot and follows the Earths spin
along the
equator.
•The
satellite must be 35,800km above the Earth’s surface.
•The
satellite has a good view of the entire Earth’s disk except for the polar regions.
•Low orbit
satellites are normally several hundred to thousand kilometers above the Earth’s
surface.
•They are
often placed in a near-polar orbit that is sun-synchronous, meaning the orbit cross the
equator at the same
local time every day.
•They only
view a small part of the Earth at any one time and pass any point twice a day.
