Orbit

Swot orbit is a non sun-synchronous 21-days orbit, at 890.6 km with an inclination of 77.6°, starting from July 21st, 2023. During the first six months of the mission, the orbit was a "calval" orbit with a one-day repeat (up to July 11th, 2023).

Characteristics of the orbits

Fast-sampling orbit (1 day calval orbit) Science orbit (21 day orbit)
Repeat orbit parameters (N+P/Q) 14+0/1 13+19/21
Mean semi-major axis (m) 7235379.8 7268718.9
Altitude (km)(mean sma minus equ. radius) 857.244 890.582
Inclination (deg) 77.6 77.6
Mean Eccentricity 0.00105 0.00105
Number of orbits per cycle 14 292
Nodal period (sec) 6131.25 6173.62
Exact repeat cycle duration (days) 0.99349 20.86455
Longitude gap between 2 consecutive ground tracks (deg) 25.714 25.890
Longitude gap between 2 adjacent ground tracks (deg) 25.714 1.233
Drift of RAAN = Right Ascension of Ascending Nodelocal time(minutes/day) -9.44 -9.35
Duration for 24h RAAN = Right Ascension of Ascending Nodelocal time change (days) 152.6 154.0