Which type of orbit crosses the Earth's north and south poles?

The type of orbit that crosses the Earth's north and south poles is a polar orbit. In a polar orbit, the satellite travels over the Earth's poles, allowing it to cover the entire surface of the Earth as the planet rotates beneath it. This orbital path is typically at a low altitude, which enables high-resolution imagery and data collection of the Earth's surface.

Satellites in polar orbits are particularly useful for applications like weather observation, environmental monitoring, and reconnaissance, as they can pass over the same area at different times and receive complete coverage of the Earth's surface over consecutive passes.

In comparison, an equatorial orbit orbits above the equator and stays in line with the Earth's rotation, making it unsuitable for crossing the poles. A geostationary orbit also does not cross the poles; it is fixed over a specific point on the equator. An inclined orbit can tilt at various angles but does not specifically define a path that crosses the poles like a polar orbit does. This specificity is why the polar orbit is the correct answer to the question.