(image credits: ESA C.Carreau)

The tools that Anagint employ allow our clients to conduct high-fidelity modelling with full flight dynamics to study orbit design with respect to mission requirements. These tools can incorporate the contribution to the orbit perturbations provided by atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure and high-order gravity. In addition to the precise propagators available, we make customised versions to match specific needs. This allows mission-centric force models, co-ordinate systems and perturbing forces to be analysed correctly.

In addition to the orbit design, we an also look at effectiveness of the spacecraft payload. Sensors such as cameras or star-trackers can be accurately represented within our models and the effect of access to other entities taken into account.

Communcation systems can be tested and such factors as environmental effects, gain pattern and orientation can be examined to see how this changes such things as the Bit Error Rate or C/N. We can also simulate the change to this link depending on differing dynamic scenarios or third-party interference/jamming.

(image credits: AGI)

The coverage area of sensors and antenna can be analysed using multiple figures of merit, both in the ground/space direction as well as the space/ground direction. The effect of manoeuvres can be modelled and the correct delta-V’s to reach a specific orbit can be calculated with ease and efficiency.

For the ground segment, we can study the tracking requirements and check the available measurement/tracking methods meet the orbit determination goals. The same system used in the planning phase can be applied to the live system, so what has been planned will be available once the system is operational.

In addition, we can take all of the variables available within the mission design and use them to find the optimum configuration to meet the mission goals, through parametric optimisation, genetic algorithms or looking through the design space to locate trending patterns and design sensitive areas.