Development of Software for Pico Satellite Position Calculation Using Orbital Mechanics

Manzano E.A. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2025) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2025.1.1.1715

Resumen

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 to calculate the position of picosatellites, simulating the trajectory of artificial satellites in real time and displaying their position in geographic and Cartesian coordinates within a Software Development Interface (IDE). The obtained results were compared with the Satellite Tool Kit (STK) to evaluate the software's accuracy, showing that the Keplerian Orbital Elements had a maximum percentage error of 0.148607% and a minimum of 0.00001%, validating the implemented model's precision. During development, issues related to true anomaly and eccentricity were identified and corrected, optimizing the accuracy of orbital position calculations. The results demonstrate the software's feasibility for satellite tracking applications, facilitating the integration of autonomous systems in ground stations while providing a reliable solution for real-time satellite position tracking. Additionally, the methodology can be applied to improve the performance of ground station systems in picosatellite operations. The successful comparison with STK highlights the model's accuracy, showcasing its potential for future real-world satellite tracking applications.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada del Norte