A Short Note

On
Sun Synchronous Orbit

Course No: ECE 4211

Course Title: RADAR and Satellite Communication

Submitted To: Submitted By:

Sehrish Khan Name: Sourav Debnath

Professor
Electronics & Communication Engineering
Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna.
Student ID: 170922
4th Year, Term: II
Electronics and Communication Engineering
Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna.

Date of Submission: 2/ 12/ 2020

Question: Briefly explain the Sun Synchronous orbit.
Answer:
Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) is a particular kind of polar orbit. It is also called Helium Synchronous orbit.
Satellites in SSO, travelling over the polar regions, are synchronous with the Sun. This means they are
synchronized to always be in the same 'fixed' position relative to the Sun. This orbit allows a satellite to
pass over a section of the Earth at the same time of day. Since there are 365 days in a year and 360 degrees
in a circle, it means that the satellite has to shift its orbit by approximately one degree per day. These
satellites orbit at an altitude between 600 to 800 km. It will be travelling at a speed of approximately 7.5
km per second. These satellites use the fact since the Earth is not perfectly round (the Earth bulges in the
center, the bulge near the equator will cause additional gravitational forces to act on the satellite. This causes
the satellite's orbit to either proceed or recede. Sun-synchronous orbits are therefore suitable to constellation
designs where the capacity of satellites in different planes can be matched with the cellular traffic
requirements at specific times of the day. These orbits are used for satellites that need a constant amount of
sunlight. Satellites that take pictures of the Earth would work best with bright sunlight, while satellites that
measure longwave radiation would work best in complete darkness.

Figure: Sun Synchronous Orbit.