Demonstrating High-Accuracy Orbital Access Using Open-Source Tools

Gilbertson, Christian; Welch, Bryan

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NASA NTRS · 20170010173

Demonstrating High-Accuracy Orbital Access Using Open-Source Tools

Gilbertson, Christian·Welch, Bryan

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Abstract

Orbit propagation is fundamental to almost every space-based analysis. Currently, many system analysts use commercial software to predict the future positions of orbiting satellites. This is one of many capabilities that can replicated, with great accuracy, without using expensive, proprietary software. NASAs SCaN (Space Communication and Navigation) Center for Engineering, Networks, Integration, and Communications (SCENIC) project plans to provide its analysis capabilities using a combination of internal and open-source software, allowing for a much greater measure of customization and flexibility, while reducing recurring software license costs. MATLAB and the open-source Orbit Determination Toolbox created by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) were utilized to develop tools with the capability to propagate orbits, perform line-of-sight (LOS) availability analyses, and visualize the results. The developed programs are modular and can be applied for mission planning and viability analysis in a variety of Solar System applications. The tools can perform 2 and N-body orbit propagation, find inter-satellite and satellite to ground station LOS access (accounting for intermediate oblate spheroid body blocking, geometric restrictions of the antenna field-of-view (FOV), and relativistic corrections), and create animations of planetary movement, satellite orbits, and LOS accesses. The code is the basis for SCENICs broad analysis capabilities including dynamic link analysis, dilution-of-precision navigation analysis, and orbital availability calculations.

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BibTeX RIS

Gilbertson, Christian, Welch, Bryan. 2017-10-01. Demonstrating High-Accuracy Orbital Access Using Open-Source Tools. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20170010173

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