Orbit – Orbit Parameters

Beta Angle orbit type options

Option	Description
Orbit Plane to Sun Vector Angle	Lets you specify the angle value for the smaller angle between the orbit plane and the sun vector. See Understanding Beta Angle orbit type parameters for more information.
Specify	Lets you specify the height of the orbit in terms of either the Altitude or the Radius.
Altitude	Sets the distance from the surface of the celestial body to the orbit.
Radius	Sets the distance from the center of the celestial body to the orbit.

Geostationary and Geosynchronous orbit type options

Option	Description
All Orbit Parameters options are set by default.

Classical, Sun Synchronous, Shuttle, and Molniya orbit type options

Option	Description
Specify	The two Specify lists let you select two of the following parameters to define the shape of the orbit:Minimum AltitudeMinimum RadiusMaximum AltitudeMaximum RadiusEccentricity****PeriodYou cannot select the same parameter from both Specify lists.
Minimum Altitude/Maximum Altitude	Appears when you select Minimum Altitude or Maximum Altitude from the Specify lists.Lets you specify the minimum or maximum distance of the orbit from the selected planet's surface.
Minimum Radius/Maximum Radius	Appears when you select Minimum Radius or Maximum Radius from the Specify lists.Lets you specify the minimum or maximum radius of the satellite's orbit. This value must be greater than the radius of the selected planet.
Eccentricity	Lets you specify a value between 0 and 1 that describes how flat the orbit is. A value of 0 corresponds to a circular orbit.A value of 1 corresponds to a radial orbit.
Period	Lets you specify the time it takes for the satellite to complete one revolution around the selected celestial body.
Orbit Inclination	Lets you specify the orbit inclination angle. This is the angle between the orbit plane and the equatorial plane, it is equivalent to the angle between the planet's axis and the orbit's normal. You must specify a value between 0˚ and 180˚. See Understanding orbit inclination for more information.
Argument of Periapsis	Lets you specify the angle formed between the periapsis (the point where the satellite is closest to the celestial body) and the ascending node. See Understanding the argument of periapsis for more information.
Satellite Position	For Earth, controls how you define the position of the satellite with reference to the ascending node.Local time at Ascending NodeSets the local time beneath the ascending node. Specify the time in the Local time at Ascending Node box using the format HH:MM:SS.Local Noon to Ascending Node AngleSets the angle from local noon to the ascending node. Specify an angular value in the Local Noon to Ascending Node Angle box.Right Ascension of Ascending NodeSets the right ascension of the ascending node. Specify an angular value in the Right Ascension of Ascending Node box.Longitude Ascending NodeSets the longitude of the ascending node for Earth orbits with the sun position set in terms of the GMT date. Specify an angular value in the Longitude of Ascending Node (>0, east) box.Longitude SatelliteSets the longitude of the satellite for Earth orbits with the sun position set in terms of the GMT date. Specify angular values in the Longitude at Satellite (>0, east) and Latitude at Satellite boxes and select the direction of the satellite at the latitude Satellite Direction at Latitude.See Defining the satellite's position for more information.Note: Longitude Ascending Node and Longitude Satellite appear only when Sun Position is set to GMT Date on the Sun Planet Characteristics tab.

Sun Planet Vectors orbit type options

Option	Description
Coordinates	Specifies the coordinate system in which to define the time-varying vectors.CartesianDefines the time-varying vectors in terms of Cartesian coordinates.SphericalDefines the time-varying vectors in the spherical coordinates.For more information, see Sun Planet Vectors orbit type parameters.
Specify Field	Lets you define time-varying vectors with Cartesian or spherical coordinates. For more information, see Sun Planet Vectors orbit type parameters. The solver uses the simulation times and the corresponding calculation positions in the table, to calculate black body, solar, Earth, and albedo view factors, and the resulting heat loads.

Learn more

Orbit

Look up more details

Orbit – Calculation Positions

Orbit – Spacecraft Attitude

Orbit – Sun Planet Characteristics

Understanding Beta Angle orbit type parameters

Understanding Classical, Sun Synchronous, Shuttle, and Molniya orbit type parameters

Sun Planet Vectors orbit type parameters

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