simpsonchristo / bamagsvis

FreeFlyer, Python, and Blender used to visualize real-time station tracking of satellites around the world and at University of Alabama.

University of Alabama Ground Station Visuals

FreeFlyer, Python, and Blender used to visualize real-time station tracking of satellites around the world and at University of Alabama.

Introduction

FreeFlyer is a flight dynamics software created by a.i. solutions, Inc.. Using the Engineer tier of the software (the one distributed to students), a prototype of the real-time visual display of satellite tracking and observations will be created. FreeFlyer can be compared to STK but is much more versatile at scripting relying less on GUIs and more on the user to integrate native applications with FreeFlyer. FreeFlyer is used in the Flight Dynamics Facility at Goddard Spaceflight Center that supports the Conjunction Assessment Risk Analysis (CARA). CARA performs probability of collision and risk analysis for all spacecraft w/o a human onboard.

Plan of Attack

1. FreeFlyer first to build a prototype. Easiest to get something working fast!
2. Incorporate Python tools used to determine real-time observation.
3. Finalize visual using Blender. Python tools previously built will be used as modules for real-time feed.

After the first prototype is built (24 hr grab of TLEs + check for visibility) we will need to update the visual in real-time. This means grabbing information from the Deep Space Network (DSN), Near Earth Network (NEN), and SatNOGS network on current observations. SatNOGS will uniquely require checks for whether a ground station is active and its location. DSN and NEN ground stations are built-into FreeFlyer making FreeFlyer the tool of choice for creating the prototype.

DSN and NEN Real-Time

SatNOGS Network

bamagsvis's Issues

Finish Layout

See the PowerPoint for the final visual.
GroundTrackVisual.pptx

formation.ViewAsGroup Failure

Whether selected in the UI or explicitly coded; formation.ViewAsGroup = 0 creates a run time error.

Run time error.
Location: Mission Plan Line 298
Script: Update GroundTrack
Command Script: Update GroundTrack;
Message: All objects must have unique keys. The 'PICSAT' key was used more than once. By default, the object key is the DisplayName. You can override the key using the ViewWindow.SetObjectKey method.

DSN/NEN Screen Grab?

Need to write code, using wget or curl in Python preferably, to grab information from the Deep Space Network Now and Near-Earth Network Now websites to provide real-time information on tracking and observation solutions.

DSN and NEN Now

Ground Station Creation/Visibility Calculator

Create all DSN/NEN stations using the built-in FreeFlyer values. Update the Visibility calculations and List<vector> gs2sc to show visibility of satellites while passing overhead. (Consider changing color of vector if ground station is observing the satellite after Issue #3 is finished).