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Old 19th Jan 2017, 12:45
  #13 (permalink)  
peekay4
 
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Almost, but not quite. They can also move satellites to different orbital planes.
Yes, of course. The question was about changing the orbital inclination between the parking orbit and the final one. Both orbits will have the same inclination.

Significant changes to the inclination require a huge amount of propellant (unless we're willing to wait forever) so it's best to place the satellites in the correct inclination to start with.

Changing the orbital plane can be done by making only a tiny, temporary change to the inclination. Changing the inclination isn't the aim -- typically the change is only a fraction of a degree -- just enough to very slowly drift the satellite towards the new plane. It can take a year before the satellite arrives at an adjacent plane.

Two will be moved to the adjacent orbital plane 5.
Thanks, I hadn't read that. Looks like the next launch will go for plane 3. Do you know how many drifters will be on the next launch?
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