Leverages satellite database
STK/CAT ensures the analysis is always up-to-date by taking advantage of the NORAD TLE database of more than
15,000 orbiting objects. Close-approach or laser-clearing analysis can be performed against the entire
database in seconds, or users can select portions of the database or create their own - e.g., commercial
satellites only, active satellites only, GEO satellites only.
Unprecedented computation speed
Pre-filtering of orbit elements allow STK/CAT to quickly exclude those space objects that cannot possibly
have a close approach due to their orbit shape, distance between orbits, and the relative passage times when
each object is close to the orbit of the other. Using pre-filters provides unprecedented computation speed
without reducing fidelity by decreasing the number of objects for which STK generates ephemeris data for the
final stage of proximity calculation.
Error ellipsoids for close approach analysis
Error ellipsoids let STK/CAT users more accurately model the uncertainty in the position of both the desired
spacecraft and those that may have potential close approaches. The user may specify the tangential,
cross-track, and normal components for each set of objects. Use of the elliptical model reduces the number of
false close approaches that would otherwise be detected when using a simple spherical model.
3D visualization of error volumes
The error ellipsoid for each primary and secondary (those in the Satellite Database) are displayed in STK's 3-D
environment. In the 3-D window, the error ellipsoids change from green to yellow during close approaches when
edges come within the specified threshold and they change to red during intersections. Visualization of STK/CAT
also allows the user to click on any ellipsoid for quick identification of the spacecraft's catalog number
(SSC) for future retrieval from the database.
Laser clearing
STK/CAT lets the user specify an exclusion half-angle to define the safety cone used in determining whether
your laser operations come too close to other orbiting objects; the bigger the exclusion half-angle, the
greater the safety margin. After selecting the laser source, intended illumination targets and time period,
STK/CAT will produce Clear Firing Reports and Potential Victims Reports. The Clear Firing Report identifies
the time periods when the laser may be used to illuminate the desired object while ensuring that no other space
objects have entered the safety cone around the beam, whereas the Potential Victims Report identifies the
space objects that will be within the safety cone around the beam during the operating period of the laser.
Each object is clearly identified along with the time periods that it is at risk.
Launch window analysis
Most launches are scheduled over a launch window, rather than one point in time. STK/CAT lets mission planners
determine safety and blackout times within launch windows due to close approaches.
Reporting of proximity results
STK/CAT will report on any potential conjunctions from the satellite database. Based on your threshold inputs,
the results will include the time, nearest approach, and SSC number of the spacecraft. Detailed information can
be provided from custom report styles or the offending spacecraft can be directly imported into STK for further
analysis and visualization.