Platforms for Remote Sensing – Rees, Ch. 10 David Sandwell, April, 2014

© Cambridge University Press 2011

REES_Fig 10.01

Altitudes of various remote

sensing platforms

low and high orbits

NOTES ON BB http://topex.ucsd.edu/rs/orbits.pdf

geometry of orbit plane

elliptical orbit motion

perigee apogee

© Cambridge University Press 2011

ground track of circular orbit

low and high orbits

geostationary orbit orbit period = 1 day

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low and high orbits

sun synchronous orbit

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precession of orbit plane

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Landsat ground tracks

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How to compute an orbital track - 1

How to compute an orbital track

How to compute precise orbits from elements

Orbital elements are based on precise GPS tracking and orbit dynamic modeling.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OrbitsCatalog/page3.php

Platforms for Remote Sensing – Rees, Ch. 1

~18,000 man-made objects orbiting the Earth