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Question 6.10: Determine the required launch azimuth for the sun-synchronou......

Determine the required launch azimuth for the sun-synchronous satellite of Example 4.9 if it is launched from Vandenburgh AFB on the California coast (latitude = 34.5° N).

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In Example 4.9 the inclination of the sun-synchronous orbit was determined to be 98.43°. Equation (6.24) is used to calculate the launch azimuth,

\cos i=\cos \phi \sin A                                (6.24)

\sin A=\cfrac{\cos i}{\cos l}=\cfrac{\cos 98.43^{\circ}}{\cos 34.5^{\circ}}=-0.1779

From this, A = 190.2°, a launch to the south, or A = 349.8°, a launch to the north.

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