Orbital Plane Precession


In the context of aviation, Orbital Plane Precession refers to the gradual rotation of the line of intersection between the orbital plane of an aircraft or satellite and a reference plane, typically the equatorial plane of the Earth. This rotation is caused by the gravitational forces exerted by other celestial bodies, primarily the Sun and the Moon, and the non-spherical shape of the Earth. The precession can affect the ground track of the aircraft or satellite, which is the path on the surface of the Earth directly below it. This is particularly important for satellites in geostationary orbits, where the precession can cause the satellite to drift out of its assigned longitude. To counteract this, satellites are equipped with thrusters that are used to perform station-keeping maneuvers to maintain their correct positions. The rate of precession depends on the inclination and eccentricity of the orbit, as well as the mass and distribution of mass of the Earth.


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