Need to knows about orbit parameters | |||
Based on the definition of vernal equinox being fixed as a line and right ascension being defined as 0 to 360 inc eastward around the fixed line, this brings us to right ascension | |||
this plot demonstrates that for a sun synched orbit, the ascending node (or RAAN) must go from 0 to 360 (relative to the vernal equinox "prime meridian") in one year | you can then get inclination knowing this relation using the equation below; change in w over time is tied to change in theta over time, so you can actually write one in terms of the other. | but only these are the valid solutions! |
While geosynchronous satellites can have any inclination, the key difference to geostationary orbit is the fact that they lie on the same plane as the equator. Geostationary orbits fall in the same category as geosynchronous orbits, but it's parked over the equator.