Re: WTD: Orbital analysis with IDL

[Med Bennett <mbennett(at)indra.com>]

Randall Skelton wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I know this is a long shot, but does anyone have IDL routines for
> calculating and plotting satellite orbits from state vector data (i.e.
> the space shuttle).  I have measurements made on the shuttle which are
> accurately time stamped, and I have the orbit parameters below...  If no
> one has code, can anyone recommend a good book on orbital mechanics?
>
> Cheers,
> Randall
>
> ---
> STS-45
> 1 21915U 92 15  A 92 92.51739928  .00256000  00000-0  65900-3 0   156
> 2 21915  56.9969 243.7362 0006513 335.5347  24.5445 15.94771428  1289
>
> Satellite: STS-45
> Catalog number: 21915
> Epoch time:      92092.51739928 -----> (01 APR 92   12:25:03.29 UTC)
> Element set:     JSC-015
> Inclination:       56.9969 deg
> RA of node:       243.7362 deg          Space Shuttle Flight STS-45
> Eccentricity:     .0006513                SGP4 Keplerian Elements
> Arg of perigee:   335.5347 deg         from NASA flight Day 9 vector
> Mean anomaly:      24.5445 deg
> Mean motion:   15.94771428 rev/day                 W5RRR
> Decay rate:    2.56000e-03 rev/day-2      NASA Johnson Space Center
> Epoch rev:             128

You should ask that latter question in sci.astro.amateur if you don't find
anyone here that can help you.