Orbital Inclination

Orbital inclination is the angle between the orbital plane of a celestial body and a reference plane. In the context of space and astronautical engineering, the reference plane is usually the plane of the ecliptic or the celestial equator. The inclination of an orbit determines the orientation of the orbit with respect to the reference plane and affects the behavior of the orbiting object. A low inclination orbit is one in which the orbiting object passes close to the equator of the body being orbited, while a high inclination orbit is one in which the orbiting object passes over the poles of the body being orbited. Orbital inclination is an important consideration in space missions, as it affects the amount of fuel required to reach a desired orbit and the ability to communicate with ground stations. It is also a key factor in determining the coverage area of remote sensing satellites.
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