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A polar sun synchronous orbit is a nearly polar orbit. Every time it crosses the Equator, it does it at the same local time (e.g. dawn or dusk). A satellite in a polar orbit passes above or nearly above both poles of the planet (or other celestial body) on each revolution. ...
Sun synchronous Polar orbits are often used for geographically specific monitoring, since they can observe specific locations at the same time of the day. Since shadows are supposed to be constant, any change in the image acquired reflects a real change on the ground.
The angle of inclination between the equator and a polarorbit is 90 degrees.
Polarorbits are often used for earth-mapping-, earth observation- and reconnaissance satellites, as well as some weather satellites.
To face one polar area a large part of the time, albeit at a large distance, an elliptic orbit with a high eccentricity with apogee above that area, is applied: a Molniya orbit.
Due to the rotation of the Earth, it is possible to combine the advantages of low-altitude orbits with global coverage, using near-polar orbiting satellites, which have an orbital plane crossing the poles.
The ground track of a polarorbiting satellite is displaced to the west after each orbital period, due to the rotation of the Earth.
The circular orbit implies a constant satellite velocity, which is important for having a regular scanning resolution along the satellite ground track.
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