Satellite Mission Analysis

Model and visualize satellite scenarios using a satelliteScenario object; use functions to support Aerospace Blockset™ spacecraft

Generate satellite scenarios to model and visualize satellites in orbit and perform additional analyses, such as computing access with ground stations. You can directly call satelliteScenario and satellliteScenarioViewer objects. To create objects for other classes, use their object creation functions (for example, satellite for a Satellite object and groundStation for a GroundStation object).

Objects

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Satellite Scenario Objects

`satelliteScenario`	Satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`satelliteScenarioViewer`	Create viewer for satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`Access`	Access analysis object belonging to scenario (Since R2021a)
`ConicalSensor`	Conical sensor object belonging to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`CoordinateAxes`	Coordinate axes triad graphic object (Since R2023a)
`Eclipse`	Eclipse analysis object belonging to scenario (Since R2023b)
`FieldOfView`	Field of view object belonging to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`Gimbal`	Gimbal object belonging to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`GroundStation`	Ground station object belonging to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`Satellite`	Satellite in satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`GroundTrack`	Ground track object belonging to satellite or platform in scenario (Since R2021a)
`Platform`	Platform in satellite scenario (Since R2024a)
`Aero.satelliteScenario.NumericalPropagatorOptions`	Numerical orbit propagator options (Since R2024a)
`Aero.satelliteScenario.PhysicalProperties`	Physical properties of satellite object (Since R2024a)
`Aero.satellitescenario.CentralBodyOptions`	Central body options used by numerical orbit propagator (Since R2025a)
`Orbit`	Orbit visualization satellite object (Since R2024a)

Spacecraft Objects

`Aero.spacecraft.NumericalPropagatorOptions`	Numerical orbit propagator options used by propagateOrbit (Since R2024b)
`Aero.spacecraft.PhysicalProperties`	Physical properties of spacecraft used by numerical orbit propagator (Since R2024b)
`Aero.spacecraft.CentralBodyOptions`	Central body options used in propagateOrbit (Since R2025a)
`quaternion`	Create quaternion array (Since R2024a)
`geoTrajectory`	Waypoint trajectory in geodetic coordinates

Functions

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Scenario Simulation

Object Creation

`access`	Add access analysis objects to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`conicalSensor`	Add conical sensor to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`coordinateAxes`	Visualize coordinate axes triad of satellite scenario assets (Since R2023a)
`eclipse`	Add eclipse analysis object to satellite or ground station (Since R2023b)
`fieldOfView`	Visualize field of view of conical sensor (Since R2021a)
`groundStation`	Add ground station to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`gimbal`	Add gimbal to satellite, platform, or ground station (Since R2021a)
`groundTrack`	Add ground track object to satellite or platform in scenario (Since R2021a)
`satellite`	Add satellites to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`walkerDelta`	Create Walker-Delta constellation in satellite scenario (Since R2022a)
`walkerStar`	Create Walker-Star constellation in satellite scenario (Since R2023a)
`physicalProperties`	Retrieve or modify physical properties of satellite object (Since R2024a)
`numericalPropagator`	Add or modify satellite scenario numerical orbit propagator options (Since R2024a)
`centralBodyOptions`	Modify central body options used in satellite scenario (Since R2025a)
`orbit`	Visualize orbit in satellite scenario (Since R2024a)
`platform`	Add platforms to satellite scenario (Since R2024a)

Satellite

`access`	Add access analysis objects to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`aer`	Calculate azimuth angle, elevation angle, and range of another satellite or ground station in NED frame (Since R2021a)
`coordinateAxes`	Visualize coordinate axes triad of satellite scenario assets (Since R2023a)
`eclipseIntervals`	Calculate intervals of solar occultation (Since R2023b)
`eclipsePercentage`	Calculate percentage of time when solar occultation occurs (Since R2023b)
`eclipseStatus`	Calculate status of solar occultation (Since R2023b)
`groundTrack`	Add ground track object to satellite or platform in scenario (Since R2021a)
`orbitalElements`	Orbital elements of satellites in scenario (Since R2021a)
`pointAt`	Point satellite at target (Since R2021a)
`states`	Obtain position and velocity of satellite or platform (Since R2021a)

Ground Station

`access`	Add access analysis objects to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`aer`	Calculate azimuth angle, elevation angle, and range of another satellite or ground station in NED frame (Since R2021a)
`coordinateAxes`	Visualize coordinate axes triad of satellite scenario assets (Since R2023a)
`eclipseIntervals`	Calculate intervals of solar occultation (Since R2023b)
`eclipsePercentage`	Calculate percentage of time when solar occultation occurs (Since R2023b)
`eclipseStatus`	Calculate status of solar occultation (Since R2023b)

Conical Sensor

`access`	Add access analysis objects to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`aer`	Calculate azimuth angle, elevation angle, and range of another satellite or ground station in NED frame (Since R2021a)
`coordinateAxes`	Visualize coordinate axes triad of satellite scenario assets (Since R2023a)
`fieldOfView`	Visualize field of view of conical sensor (Since R2021a)

Gimbals

`coordinateAxes`	Visualize coordinate axes triad of satellite scenario assets (Since R2023a)
`gimbalAngles`	Steering angles of gimbal (Since R2021a)
`pointAt`	Point satellite at target (Since R2021a)

Access Analysis

`accessIntervals`	Intervals during which access status is true (Since R2021a)
`accessPercentage`	Percentage of time when access exists between first and last node in access analysis (Since R2021a)
`accessStatus`	Status of access between first and last node defining access analysis (Since R2021a)

Visualization

`advance`	Move simulation forward by one sample time (Since R2022a)
`hide`	Hide satellite scenario entity from viewer (Since R2021a)
`play`	Play satellite scenario simulation results on viewer (Since R2021a)
`restart`	Restart simulation from beginning (Since R2022a)
`show`	Show object in satellite scenario viewer (Since R2021a)

Viewer

`camheading`	Set or get heading angle of camera for Satellite Scenario Viewer (Since R2021a)
`camheight`	Set or get height of camera for Satellite Scenario Viewer (Since R2021a)
`campitch`	Set or get pitch angle of camera for Satellite Scenario Viewer (Since R2021a)
`campos`	Set or get position of camera for Satellite Scenario Viewer (Since R2021a)
`camroll`	Set or get roll angle of camera for Satellite Scenario Viewer (Since R2021a)
`camtarget`	Set camera target for Satellite Scenario Viewer (Since R2021a)
`hideAll`	Hide all graphics in satellite scenario viewer (Since R2021a)
`showAll`	Show all graphics in viewer (Since R2021a)

Platform applications

`access`	Add access analysis objects to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`aer`	Calculate azimuth angle, elevation angle, and range of another satellite or ground station in NED frame (Since R2021a)
`conicalSensor`	Add conical sensor to satellite scenario (Since R2021a)
`eclipse`	Add eclipse analysis object to satellite or ground station (Since R2023b)
`gimbal`	Add gimbal to satellite, platform, or ground station (Since R2021a)
`groundTrack`	Add ground track object to satellite or platform in scenario (Since R2021a)
`coordinateAxes`	Visualize coordinate axes triad of satellite scenario assets (Since R2023a)
`path`	Visualize platform path in satellite scenario (Since R2024a)
`show`	Show object in satellite scenario viewer (Since R2021a)
`hide`	Hide satellite scenario entity from viewer (Since R2021a)
`states`	Obtain position and velocity of satellite or platform (Since R2021a)

Transformations

`ecef2eci`	Position and velocity vectors in Earth-centered inertial mean-equator mean-equinox
`eci2ecef`	Position, velocity, and acceleration vectors in Earth-centered Earth-fixed (ECEF) coordinate system
`ijk2keplerian`	Keplerian orbit elements using position and velocity vectors
`keplerian2ijk`	Position and velocity vectors in geocentric equatorial coordinate system using Keplerian orbit elements
`siderealTime`	Greenwich mean and apparent sidereal times (Since R2021a)

Orbit Propagation

`ommread`	Read data from orbit mean-elements message (OMM) file (Since R2024a)
`propagateOrbit`	Calculate position and velocity of spacecraft (Since R2024b)
`tleread`	Read data from two-line element (TLE) file (Since R2023b)

Space Weather

`aeroReadSpaceWeatherData`	Output MAT file of space weather data (Since R2023a)
`fluxSolarAndGeomagnetic`	Extract solar flux and geomagnetic field data (Since R2023a)

Unit Conversions

`decyear`	Decimal year calculator
`juliandate`	Julian date calculator
`leapyear`	Determine leap year
`mjuliandate`	Modified Julian date calculator
`tdbjuliandate`	Convert from Terrestrial time to Barycentric Dynamical Time (TDB) Julian date

Topics

Satellite Scenario Key Concepts
Learn common satellite scenario visualization terms.
Optimize a Satellite Constellation While Satisfying Constraints on Ground Station Access
Find minimum-cost satellite constellation able to meet coverage requirements.
Satellite Scenario Basics
Build complete satellite scenario simulation.
Model, Visualize, and Analyze Satellite Scenario
Model satellites in orbit, analyze access between the satellites and the ground stations, and visualize the fields of view and ground tracks of the satellites.
Orbit Propagation Methods
Analyze the motion and dynamics of aerospace vehicles with short-period requirements, boundary line, and altitude contour plots.

Featured Examples

New

Model Articulating Spacecraft Solar Panels for Sun-Tracking

Model sun-tracking solar panels on a nadir pointing spacecraft.

Since R2025a
Open Live Script

Modeling Satellite Constellations Using Ephemeris Data

Add time-stamped ephemeris data for a constellation of 24 satellites to a satellite scenario for access analysis.

Open Live Script

Comparison of Orbit Propagators

Compare the orbits predicted by the Two-Body-Keplerian, Simplified General Perturbations-4 (SGP4) and Simplified Deep-Space Perturbations-4 (SDP4) orbit propagators.

Open Live Script

Satellite Constellation Access to Ground Station

Set up access analysis between a ground station and conical sensors onboard a constellation of satellites.

Open Live Script

Detect and Track LEO Satellite Constellation with Ground Radars

Import a Two-Line Element (TLE) file of a satellite constellation, simulate radar detections of the constellation, and track the constellation.

Open Live Script

Multi-Hop Path Selection Through Large Satellite Constellation

Determine the path through a large constellation.

Open Live Script

Modeling Custom Satellite Attitude and Gimbal Steering

Point satellite or gimbal in satellite scenario using logged orientation data from timetable or timeseries.

Open Live Script

Analyze Access Between a Satellite Constellation and an Aircraft

Model an aircraft trajectory and a Walker-Delta satellite constellation using Aerospace Toolbox, and analyze and visualize the computed access between the aircraft and satellite constellation.

Open Live Script

Satellite Conjunction Finder

Find potential events of close proximity or conjuctions of two satellites.

Open Live Script

Model a Lunar Free-Return Trajectory in Satellite Scenario Using Numerical Orbit Propagation

Simulate a lunar free return trajectory using satellite scenario.

Open Live Script

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