Generating Animated Displays of Spacecraft Orbits

NASA Tech Briefs, Feb 2005 by Candey, Robert M, Chimiak, Reine A, Harris, Bernard T

Tool for Interactive Plotting, Bonification, and 3D Orbit Display (TIPSOD) is a computer program for generating interactive, animated, four-dimensional (space and time) displays of spacecraft orbits. TIPSOD utilizes the programming interface of the Satellite Situation Center Web (SSCWeb) services to communicate with the SSC logic and database by use of the open protocols of the Internet. TIPSOD is implemented in Java 3D and effects an extension of the pre-existing SSCWeb two-dimensional static graphical displays of orbits. Orbits can be displayed in any or all of the following seven reference systems: true-of-date (an inertial system), J2000 (another inertial system), geographic, geomagnetic, geocentric solar ecliptic, geocentric solar magnetospheric, and solar magnetic. In addition to orbits, TIPSOD computes and displays Sibeck's magnetopause and Fairfieid's bow-shock surfaces. TIPSOD can be used by the scientific community as a means of projection or interpretation. It also has potential as an educational tool. Documentation and links for downloading the software can be found at http://sscweb.gsfc.gov/tipsod/.>This program was written by Robert M. Candey, Reine A. Chimiak, and Bernard T. Harris of Goddard Space Flight Center. For more information contact the Goddard Commercial Technology Office at (301) 286-5810.