Virtual Environment for Satellite Modeling and Orbital Analysis in a DistributedInteractive Simulation

摘要

In response to the need for a more realistic, interactive, and immersive spacesimulation system, the Joint National Intelligence Defense Staff (JNIDS) has sponsored the development of the Satellite Modeler at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). The Satellite Modeler (SM) is a virtual environment (VE) application that allows analyst-users to enter a virtual near-Earth space environment and visualize realistic satellite models performing accurate orbital motion. The Satellite Modeler provides manipulation functions that allow a user to interact with multiple satellite models and satellite constellations. The system affords the user multiple vantage points within the environment to view satellites in orbit. It also functions as a network actor in a distributed simulation environment. The Satellite Modeler achieves accurate physical modeling of satellite motion by using the North American Air Defense (NORAD) Command SGP4 orbital model and associated orbital elements for satellites currently in orbit.