A Sun-synchronous orbit is a near-polar orbit around Earth chosen so that the orbital plane precesses at almost exactly the same rate Earth revolves around the Sun, keeping the satellite's local solar time over any given latitude nearly constant from one pass to the next. This consistent lighting makes it the standard choice for Earth-observation and weather satellites, which benefit from imaging the same location under comparable sun angles orbit after orbit. The precession is achieved deliberately by exploiting the gravitational effect of Earth's equatorial bulge on a satellite's orbital plane, rather than fighting it with propellant.
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