Convert orbital cadence and a per-orbit viewing window into daily and mission-wide observation time. Duty cycle and cloud-free yield inputs make the estimate more realistic for early payload scheduling.
Mission time equals daily effective time multiplied by mission duration.
The result is scheduled, usable observing time rather than total time in orbit. It is most useful for comparing cadence and operational assumptions.
Target latitude, lighting, slew limits, ground-track repeat, and seasonal cloud patterns require separate modeling.
With a 95-minute period, 6-minute window, 80% duty cycle, and 70% usable yield, effective observation time is about 50.93 minutes per day, or 25.46 hours in 30 days.
Enter distance from the body's center. Add the body's mean radius to altitude before using the calculator.
Yes. It uses a two-body circular-orbit approximation unless the page explicitly asks for a mission allowance.
Yes. Replace the gravitational parameter and radius inputs with values for the selected body.
High-fidelity tools may include oblateness, atmospheric drag, third-body gravity, eccentricity, and numerical propagation.
No. They are preliminary engineering estimates and should be checked with validated mission-analysis software.
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Shorter period | More opportunities per day |
| Longer viewing window | More gross access time |
| Higher duty cycle | More scheduled payload operation |
| Higher yield | More usable observations |