Inclination is the angle between the orbital plane and Earth's equatorial plane. It is the single most important parameter for determining a satellite's coverage geography.
Inclination is the angle between the orbital plane and Earth's equatorial plane. It is the single most important parameter for determining a satellite's coverage geography.
ISS sits at 51.6°, Starlink shells range from 43° to 97.6°, and most Earth observation satellites use 97–98° for sun-synchronous coverage.
Launch sites impose physics. Getting to a very different inclination requires expensive maneuvers that burn huge amounts of fuel.
Inclination above 90° means the satellite travels opposite to Earth's rotation — retrograde. This isn't just unusual, it's useful.
These two independent effects together explain every ground track shape you'll ever see on Orbital Radar.