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It is expressed as the angle between a reference plane and the orbital plane or axis of direction of the orbiting object. For a satellite orbiting the Earth directly above the Equator , the plane of the satellite's orbit is the same as the Earth's equatorial plane, and the satellite's orbital inclination is 0°.
Beta angle ()In orbital mechanics, the beta angle is the angle between a satellite's orbital plane around Earth and the geocentric position of the Sun. [1] The beta angle determines the percentage of time that a satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) spends in direct sunlight, absorbing solar radiation. [2]
A satellite is said to occupy an inclined orbit around Earth if the orbit exhibits an angle other than 0° to the equatorial plane. This angle is called the orbit's inclination. A planet is said to have an inclined orbit around the Sun if it has an angle other than 0° to the ecliptic plane.
The angle is measured eastwards (or, as seen from the north, counterclockwise) from the FPA to the node. [2] [3] An alternative is the local time of the ascending node (LTAN), based on the local mean time at which the spacecraft crosses the equator. Similar definitions exist for satellites around other planets (see planetary coordinate systems).
Nadir also refers to the downward-facing viewing geometry of an orbiting satellite, [2] such as is employed during remote sensing of the atmosphere, as well as when an astronaut faces the Earth while performing a spacewalk. A nadir image is a satellite image or aerial photo of the Earth taken vertically.
Argument of periapsis (ω) — defines the orientation of the ellipse in the orbital plane, as an angle measured from the ascending node to the periapsis (the closest point the satellite body comes to the primary body around which it orbits), the purple angle ω in the diagram. This quantity is undefined for circular orbits, but is often set to ...
A satellite ground track or satellite ground trace is the path on the surface of a planet directly below a satellite's trajectory. It is also known as a suborbital track or subsatellite track , and is the vertical projection of the satellite's orbit onto the surface of the Earth (or whatever body the satellite is orbiting). [ 1 ]
In some cases, it can require less total delta-v to raise the satellite into a higher orbit, change the orbit plane at the higher apogee, and then lower the satellite to its original altitude. [1] For the most efficient example mentioned above, targeting an inclination at apoapsis also changes the argument of periapsis.