What is Polar Orbiting Satellite ?

This page describe polar orbiting satellite and its function. The advantages of polar satellite are also mentioned.

What is Polar Satellite ?

The satellite which is installed on polar sun synchronous orbit is known as polar satellite or polar orbiting satellite. This orbit lies at altitude between 700 to 800 Km. This satellite passes over all places on the Earth having same latitude twice in each orbit at the same local sun time.

These polar satellites cover entire globe on regular basis and provides repetitive coverage on periodic basis. Most of the earth imaging satellites are polar orbiting. This means they circle the planet in a roughly north-south ellipse while the earth revolves beneath them. Polar satellite crosses over both the poles on each revolution. Orbital period is 100 minutes of such satellites.

Polar orbiting satellite

Examples of polar orbiting satellites :
• SCATSAT-1 which was installed in 730 Km polar sun synchronous orbit. It was launched by INDIA using PSLV C-35 launch vehicle. It can be used to provide wind vector data for weather forecasting, cyclone detection and tracking services to the users.
• Othe polar satellites are Landsat series, SPOT series, IRS series, NOAA, SEASAT, TIROS etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of Polar satellite

➨Advantages: It is used for reconnaissance and to capture high resolution images for earth observation/mapping.
➨Disadvantages: It can not view a particular spot on the Earth's surface continuously.


Satellite related links

To know more about satellite go through following mentioned links:
Satellite tutorial   what is a satellite   Satellite frequency bands of operation   Parts of a satellite   Satellite Orbits   Satellite Services   Satellite types   Satellite Capacity Allocation   Satellite Network Configuration   Satellite Applications   Satellite Terminology  Satellite Applications   Satellite Launch Procedure   Remote sensing satellites   Satellite TTC   Satellite Launch Service Providers   Satellite Parts Manufacturers  

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