Ground track
A ground track is the path traced on Earth's surface directly beneath a satellite as it orbits.
Because the planet rotates under the orbit, each successive pass shifts westward, drawing the familiar sine-wave pattern on a flat map.
The track's north–south extent is set by the orbit's inclination, and repeating ground tracks are designed for satellites that must revisit the same places.
See it live on Cosmik
Related terms
- Orbital inclination — Orbital inclination is the angle between a satellite's orbital plane and Earth's equator, measured in degrees.
- RAAN & the ascending node — The ascending node is where a satellite crosses the equator heading north; RAAN (right ascension of the ascending node) is the angle that fixes that crossing point in space.
- Orbital period — The orbital period is the time a satellite takes to complete one full orbit, set almost entirely by its altitude.
