Polar orbit

A polar orbit is inclined about 90 degrees to a body's equatorial plane, carrying an object over or near both poles on each revolution. As the body rotates beneath it, the orbit can cover much of the surface.

Orbital inclination: The angle between an orbit's plane and a specified reference plane. An inclination near 90 degrees is what makes an orbit polar.
Earth observation satellite: An artificial satellite designed to collect information about Earth's land, oceans, atmosphere, or environment. Many Earth-observation satellites use polar or near-polar paths for broad coverage.
Keplerian orbit: An idealized orbit governed by two bodies interacting through Newtonian gravity. Polar inclination is one orientation property within the broader Keplerian orbit description.
Inclined orbit: An orbit tilted relative to a chosen reference plane, such as a body's equator. Polar orbit is the near-90-degree special case within the broader class of inclined orbits.
Orbital plane: The geometric plane containing an orbit around a central body. Its orientation relative to the equator determines whether the orbit passes near the poles.
Remote sensing: The collection of information about an object or area without direct physical contact. Polar-orbiting spacecraft repeatedly sense Earth's surface from changing ground tracks.
Orbital elements: A set of parameters that specifies an orbit's size, shape, orientation, and position. Inclination and the ascending-node direction locate a polar orbit's plane.
Geostationary orbit: A circular equatorial orbit in which a satellite appears fixed above one point on Earth. Its equatorial plane and fixed ground position contrast with polar coverage.
Ground track: The path traced on a body's surface beneath an orbiting object. A rotating planet shifts successive polar-orbit ground tracks in longitude.
Meteorological satellite: A satellite that observes atmospheric conditions to support weather analysis and forecasting. Polar meteorological satellites sample high latitudes and revisit the whole planet.

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Satellite meteorologyRelated: Repeated passes give broad global coverage that geostationary satellites cannot provide.