NOAA-N is the latest in a series of polar-orbiting satellites, that will collect information to improve weather prediction and climate research across the globe.

The bearing for polar-orbiting satellites varies continuously.

Terra is a polar-orbiting satellite with a morning equatorial crossing.

AMSUs are always situated on polar-orbiting satellites in sun-synchronous orbits.

MetOp: MetOp is Europe's first polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology.

TIROS-1, a polar-orbiting satellite, weighed 270 pounds and carried two cameras and two video recorders.

However, the paths of the geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites leave a band of high latitudes not covered near the Antarctic and Southern Ocean.

Depending on the latitude, satellite communications may require polar-orbiting satellites, or the vessel may be in line of sight of a geosynchronous satellite.

In 1979 NOAA's first polar-orbiting environmental satellite was launched.

NOAA-N is the 15th in a series of polar-orbiting satellites dating back to 1978.