Orbital inclination
Orbital inclination is the angle between a satellite's orbital plane and Earth's equator, measured in degrees.
0° is an equatorial orbit, 90° is a polar orbit that passes over both poles, and values above 90° are retrograde.
Inclination sets the range of latitudes a satellite flies over, which is why polar and near-polar orbits are chosen for global Earth coverage.
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Related terms
- 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.
- Ground track — A ground track is the path traced on Earth's surface directly beneath a satellite as it orbits.
- Sun-synchronous orbit — A sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) is a near-polar low Earth orbit tuned so the satellite passes over every location at the same local solar time on each visit.
