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Polar Orbiting Satellite & Earth Observation

This document discusses earth observation satellites and polar orbiting satellites. It describes how earth observation satellites are used to monitor the environment, weather, terrain mapping and satellite imagery. It explains the different types of satellite orbits - geostationary orbit, low earth orbit and medium earth orbit. It focuses on polar orbits and how they allow a satellite to cover the entire globe. Polar orbits are generally low earth orbits. Sun-synchronous orbits are a type of polar orbit that keeps the satellite in the same position relative to the sun, allowing it to visit the same spot at the same local time each day. An example of a satellite in sun-synchronous orbit is MODIS on the Terra and Aqua satellites.

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98 views11 pages

Polar Orbiting Satellite & Earth Observation

This document discusses earth observation satellites and polar orbiting satellites. It describes how earth observation satellites are used to monitor the environment, weather, terrain mapping and satellite imagery. It explains the different types of satellite orbits - geostationary orbit, low earth orbit and medium earth orbit. It focuses on polar orbits and how they allow a satellite to cover the entire globe. Polar orbits are generally low earth orbits. Sun-synchronous orbits are a type of polar orbit that keeps the satellite in the same position relative to the sun, allowing it to visit the same spot at the same local time each day. An example of a satellite in sun-synchronous orbit is MODIS on the Terra and Aqua satellites.

Uploaded by

tirtha kalita
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Polar Orbiting Satellite

&
Earth Observation
Jeevan Upadhyaya
Roll Number - 25
Msc 4th Semester
Dibrugarh University
Earth Observing Satellite (EOS)
Earth observation satellites
are satellites specifically
designed to observe Earth
from orbit

USES
I. Environmental monitoring
II. Meteorology
III. Mapping of terrain
IV. Satellite imagery etc..
Satellite Orbits types
● Geostationary orbit (GEO)

● Low Earth orbit (LEO)

● Medium Earth orbit (MEO)


Satellite Orbits types
● Geostationary orbit (GEO)

● Low Earth orbit (LEO)

● Medium Earth orbit (MEO)

● Orbits 35,786 km above ground.


● Used in various forms of
telecommunication, including
television
● Gives very high temporal
resolution but low spatial
resolution
● No tracking of satellite required.
Satellite Orbits types
● Low Earth orbit (LEO)
● Medium Earth orbit (MEO)

● LEO:160-1000km
● Used for observation,imaging.
● High spatial resolution & low
temporal resolution.
● Eg: modis,aura etc..

● MEO: Anywhere between 1000


km to geo orbit.
● Used in navigation satellites, eg:
GPS
Polar Orbit
● Satellites in a polar orbit do
not have to pass the North
and South Pole precisely
20 to 30 degrees deviation
is still classed as a polar
orbit (ESA)
● A satellite in a polar orbit
has a 90-degree
inclination. (NASA)
Polar Orbit and EOS
● Polar orbits are generally
Low Earth Orbit.
● Covers the entire globe with
just one satellite.
● Good for high resolution
data.
● But not suitable for
monitoring weather,
hurricanes, fires etc.

Animation of MetOp satellite (EUMETSAT)


Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO)
● SSO is a particular kind of polar orbit.
● Always be in the same ‘fixed’ position relative
to the Sun.
● Here satellite always visits the same spot at
the same local time everyday.
● A satellite in a Sun-synchronous orbit would
usually be at an altitude of between 600 to
800 km. At 800 km, it will be travelling at a
speed of approximately 7.5 km per second
● eg:MODIS Terra & Aqua, Aura etc
Example: MODIS
MODIS

● Swath value is defined as width


of the patch of the land scanned
by satellite in one swipe over an
area.
● Notice that the MODIS sensor
only takes data during the
dayside because it measures
reflected rays from the sun.
● Bigger swath means quicker
observation of entire earth. Animation of MODIS Terra(NASA)
THANK YOU

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