Orbital Mechanics
Low-Earth Orbit and Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) refers to orbits with altitudes roughly between 160 km and 2,000 km above Earth, characterised by short orbital periods (about 90 minutes) and used for Earth observation, communication constellations, and technology demonstration satellites. A Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) is a special near-polar LEO in which a satellite passes over any given point on Earth at the same local solar time on every orbit, achieved by precisely tuning altitude and inclination so that orbital precession matches Earth's revolution around the Sun; this makes SSPO valuable for consistent-lighting remote sensing, weather, and reconnaissance satellites.
- Vikram-1's payload was injected into an approximately 450 km LEO during Mission Aagaman.
- The vehicle is separately rated to deliver about 290 kg to a 500 km SSPO — the orbit type most in demand for Earth-observation smallsats.
- Polar/Sun-synchronous orbits are typically accessed via launches with an inclination close to 90-98 degrees, distinct from equatorial or low-inclination LEO launches used for many communication satellites.
● Tracked since April 02, 2026 · last seen July 18, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes