[amsat-bb] Re: NASA predix program

[Jim Jerzycke]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TDRS


--- On Wed, 3/11/09, Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel at ngunn.net> wrote:

> From: Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel at ngunn.net>
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: NASA predix program
> To: "Alan Sieg WB5RMG" <wb5rmg at somenet.net>
> Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 5:08 PM
> Thanks Alan.
> I use either Orbitron or InstantTrack.
> I had always wondered what the range circles over Russia
> were.
> Does NASA have an official write up on the 'net.
> Do we know the object numbers for the TDRS birds? My keps
> suggest there are 9 TDRS birds up there.
> 
> 
> Alan Sieg WB5RMG wrote:
> 
> > 
> > There are several different views you may see, but the
> main thing that
> > we "see" is the background map. Several
> "free" programs now utilize the
> > map made from composite satellite images that looks
> natural and cloud-free.
> > A good example someone pointed out is the default
> image in Orbitron.
> > 
> > What sets the NASA maps apart is that they also
> usually show the coverage
> > area of the three primary TDRS relay satellites, and
> marks on the future
> > ground tracks to indicate orbital sunrise and sunsets.
> As the shuttle
> > (or ISS) moves about the orbit, those coverage circles
> help visualize the
> > "TDRSS handovers" where communications will
> drop out for a minute or a few.
> > You may also notice on the ISS map view, the range
> circles about the Russian
> > ground stations. During de-orbit and re-entry the
> background goes black and
> > you'll see blue range circles about the various US
> radar tracking sites.
> > During Joint-Ops with both Shuttle and ISS, they show
> Lat/Lon/Alt stats
> > in the upper corners of the display. Lots of things
> they can turn on/off.
> > 
> > The other display (my personal favorite) provides a
> multi-view in 3D space.
> > I've heard it refered to as 'Birds Eye
> View' or BEV. I've seen similar
> > applications running on SGI computers, with a 3 pane
> window... the top one
> > a side view parallel to the velocity vector, with
> gravity down. The lower
> > panes showing 1) a view from above sighting down along
> gravity, and 2) a
> > view from slightly above looking forward along the
> velocity vector. These
> > views are fed by live telemetry data that will include
> the vehicles
> > orientation respective to those vectors. I really like
> watching those
> > during orientation adjustments. If you can watch
> before docking, you can
> > see how the ISS is rotated around to place the docking
> port 'in back' so
> > that the Shuttle's TPS is better protcted from any
> orbital debris. If you
> > see this display before re-entry you can see how they
> turn tail-forward
> > in preparation for the de-orbit burn... I really enjoy
> watching this stuff.
> > 
> > Still tho, it is hard to beat the 3D view in
> InstantTrack, especially on
> > one of those Molniya orbits like AO-13, whippin around
> perigee - whoosh !
> > 
> >    Enjoy   /;^)
> > 
> > 
> >
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> 
> -- 
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
> Nigel A. Gunn. G8IFF   W8IFF (was KC8NHF)
> 1865 El Camino Drive, Xenia, OH 45385-1115, USA   937 825
> 5032
> e-mail nigel at ngunn.net             www 
> http://www.ngunn.net
> Member of  ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548, 
> Flying Pig #385,
>                    Dayton ARA #2128,  AMSAT-NA   LM-1691, 
> AMSAT-UK, MKARS,  ALC
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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