Development of Software for Pico Satellite Position Calculation Using Orbital Mechanics (#1715)

Authors

Manzano Ramos, Edgar Andre

Abstract

The tracking and control of picosatellites in ground stations remains a crucial topic within the rapidly advancing aerospace field. This research details the development of software based on Orbital Mechanics, Euler Rotation, and numerical methods for calculating the position of picosatellites. The system simulates the real-time trajectory of artificial satellites, presenting their position in geographic and Cartesian coordinates within a Software Development Interface (IDE). The results obtained were compared with the Satellite Tool Kit (STK) to evaluate the accuracy of the software. The values of the Keplerian Orbital Elements showed a maximum percentage error of 0.148607% and a minimum of 0.00001%, validating the accuracy of the implemented model. During development, issues related to true anomaly and eccentricity were identified and corrected, optimizing the accuracy of orbital position calculations. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the software for satellite tracking applications, facilitating the integration of autonomous systems in ground stations. This software provides a reliable solution for real-time satellite position tracking, and the methodology can be applied to improve the performance of ground station systems for picosatellite operations. The successful comparison with STK highlights the model’s precision, showcasing its potential for future use in real-world satellite tracking applications.