Re: Ballistic launch trajectory code
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg110512] Re: Ballistic launch trajectory code
- From: Daniel Flatin <dflatin at rcn.com>
- Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:00:23 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <hvcdt9$5ii$1@smc.vnet.net> <hvevum$jn0$1@smc.vnet.net>
On 2010-06-18 01:24:38 -0400, Chris Pemberton said: > On 06/17/2010 01:04 AM, Dan wrote: >> I was wondering if anyone could point me toward a Mathematica based >> code or a package, commercial or otherwise, that can compute a >> ballistic launch trajectory. I am envisioning something that provides >> position, velocity, and acceleration state vectors as a function of >> time in an earth centered inertial frame. Ideally, this would make use >> of a standard gravitational model such as the one used in SGP4. I have >> ported SGP4 to Mathematica, and I would like to add this function to >> my tool suite. >> >> Thanks in advance, >> Dan Flatin >> >> > Darn it Kim Jong-il, is that you? I told you _never_ contact the list > members; just lurk and learn. Anyway, it's all in that thumb drive I > sent you last summer; look in the "Family Vacation Pics" folder. > > Yours, > > V. Putin Chris, that was hilarious! But for those of you who may not know, SGP4, used by NORAD to maintain their satellite database, is a well documented satellite trajectory propagation algorithm. Actually, it is just one of a family of algorithms, all tuned to different gravitational regimes. If you are interested, take a look at David Vallado's Fundamentals of Astrodynamics and Applications. Code for SGP4 is available online in various languages (just not in Mathematica) at http://celestrak.com/software/vallado-sw.asp Note that I am aware of STK (http://www.stk.com), but I am interested in doing as much of the problem at hand from within Mathematica, and I don't particularly like using black box software tools for this sort of thing. I am still finding my way around this topic. I sincerely appreciate all the good responses I have received. Dan