The Earth Satellite Program (ESP), Version 2.0

Abstract

The Earth Satellite Program (ESP) version 2.0 is a user-friendly, highly graphical, Macintosh-based program that was developed for the Air Force Milstar program to support satellite constellation and ground site terminal design studies. The computer program generates satellite ground tracks; computes elevation angles, ranges, and range rates; determines outage zones for a constellation of satellites; and generates spot beam projections. Any elliptical Earth-orbit may be accommodated. A fourth-order Runge-Kutta integrator is used to propagate satellite orbits. Perturbations due to the Earth's oblateness (J2 effects), atmospheric drag, and solar radiation pressure are included. This paper contains a user's guide to the program, presents the underlying mathematical models, and includes several sample outputs and the software on diskette.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1994
Accession Number
ADA278860

Entities

People

  • L. M. Gaffney
  • R. Callwood

Organizations

  • MITRE Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Apogees
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Astronautics
  • Communication Satellites
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Geography
  • Geometry
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Satellite Constellations
  • Satellite Orbits
  • Spacecraft Orbits
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computer Science.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites