LOWLIGHT COVERAGE FROM POLAR AND SUN-SYNCHRONOUS ORBITS.

Abstract

Satellites in polar (inclination 90 degrees) and sun-synchronous orbits unavoidably view regions of low illumination during a portion of each orbital pass. The fraction of the pass spent in lowlight areas changes little from day to day but may vary appreciably through the seasons. Analyzed here are the seasonal variations in lowlight coverage, as well as daylight and night coverage, provided by polar and sun-synchronous orbits with various orientations. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0600970

Entities

People

  • Robert L. Pyle

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Daylight
  • Illumination
  • Optical Phenomena
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Seasonal Variations
  • Seasons

Readers

  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites