Orbit, forces & look angles

Change the orbit and follow the satellite’s forces and look angles.

Set up the orbit

Starting orbit Orbit-view reference frame Areal density ρA [kg/m²] Integration step dt [s]

Solar pressure

Elapsed simulation time6.00 h

FORCE_PHASE: initial push direction40°

Model assumptions

48 hours of equatorial motion around a spherical Earth; no eclipses or thrust. Reflectivity αr = 0.5. Earth rotates once per sidereal day; the solar push direction rotates once per 365 days.

The bigger picture: Sun, Earth & satellite

One moment, two scales. Use the time and initial solar direction controls above to follow the same angles in both views.

Sun-centered overview

φ is the push direction, from the Sun toward Earth. The purple trace is the same 48-hour satellite orbit, enlarged.

Earth neighborhood, enlarged

θ locates the satellite around Earth. δ compares its outward radial direction with the parallel solar push.

relative = FORCE_PHASE+ ΩSun · time− θ

Initial push directionFORCE_PHASE

Annual change+ ΩSun · time

Satellite angle− θ

Relative angle, δEquivalent within ±180°

Space-fixed axes in both views; the frame control changes Orbit & observer below. Over 48 hours, the annual direction changes by only about 2°. Body sizes, distances and arrow lengths are not to scale. Earth’s path illustrates the prescribed solar direction, not an additional orbit simulation.

Orbit, forces & look angles

Set up the orbit

The bigger picture: Sun, Earth & satellite

Sun-centered overview

Earth neighborhood, enlarged

1 · Orbit & observer

2 · Local accelerations

3 · Elevation

4 · Azimuth