Originally Posted by
TelcoAg
The fact that the plane didn't start on the equator is what breaks symmetry.
There's still symmetry about the line connecting the starting point and the "epicenter" of the satellite (0N 64.5E).
The fact the eccentricity is predominately N and S has presented the possibility of determining the values of small doppler shifts in a signal being received from an aircraft that is either traveling N or S below it.
OK, this is more interesting. Satellite drift by itself does not break the symmetry, but speed of the satellite wrt surface of the Earth would either subtract from speed of the aircraft if it moves in the same direction, or add to it if it moves the other way. I suppose this could work.