Tracking satellites can be fun (where is the ISS now?) … and complicated. Fortunately there are some algorithms that can help like the SGP4.
I’ve used an available php implementation of the SGP4 algorithm and made a simple satellite tracker application showing the ISS, but really it can show any satellite as long I feed the proper Two Line Element from CelesTrack.
Check the link and you’ll see where the ISS is hovering now: www.spacemig.com/satellite-tracker
And you can check how accurate this is by going to this link:
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544
References
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplified_perturbations_models
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-line_element_set
- http://www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/
Today… another interesting day.
Started up with simulations with STK (I’m working on a Lunar Mission project) and had a meeting with AGI. I learned that it may be possible to have a educational licence if you are in a educational institution. More on this to come.
I found this very interesting blog to help me with STK/Astrogator: http://astrogatorsguild.com/ (they’ve done a great job!). Just wish they would have more info about their files.
Then I had another class of MicroSensors and MicroActuators … not that much fun tough! And finally in the evening the grat class of High Growth Entrepreneurship. That was great 🙂 as always…
Exploring Space Ad Infinitum