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Technical

Orbital Inclination

The angle between a spacecraft's orbital plane and Earth's equatorial plane.

Inclination determines the latitudes a satellite can observe or serve.

Common Values

  • 0°: Equatorial (GEO)
  • 28.5°: Minimum from Cape Canaveral
  • 51.6°: ISS orbit
  • ~98°: Sun-synchronous
  • 90°: Polar

Regulatory Considerations

  • Affects debris environment exposure
  • Influences re-entry ground track