The Place Object

The Place object (Place object icon) models a point of interest on the surface of the central body. Select one or more of the following to model a place, impose constraints, and define the place's subobjects:

Basic Properties

Property Description
Position Define the location of the place using one of several available position types.
AzElMask Use terrain data or a mask file to define an azimuth-elevation mask for the place.
Terrain Slope Define the scope of the local terrain.
Processing Delay Time Define the processing delay of any strands.
Description Record useful information about the place.

2D Graphics Properties

Property Description
Attributes Define color and marker style for the place, and opt whether to inherit or override the global setting for label display.
AzElMask Control the display of azimuth-elevation mask properties in the 2D Graphics window.
Range Define range contours representing the various regions of the surface that can see an object at the specified level.
Display Times Set time intervals during which place graphics display.
Radar Cross Section Define the 2D contour graphics for the desired frequency.

3D Graphics Properties

Property Description
Vector Control the display of vectors and other geometric elements related to the place.
Attitude Sphere The Attitude Sphere is a visualization aid that when combined with vector display constitutes a powerful tool for displaying the object's attitude and for tracking attitude changes over time.
Model Specify a model to represent a particular place in the 3D Graphics window, and then scale the model and adjust the position of any model articulations.
Offsets Position a model and marker representing a place in the 3D Graphics window by offsetting the object from its reference frame.
AzElMask Control the display of azimuth-elevation mask properties in the 3D Graphics window.
Range Display range contours for a specific STK place. Range contours display in accordance with the values set for 2D Graphics Range Contours for the object.
Model Pointing Point parts of a place model toward a place, such as the Sun or Earth.
Data Display Display dynamic data for the specified place in the 3D Graphics window.
Vapor Trail Add a vapor trail to the place.

Constraints

Property Description
Basic Impose a variety of standard access constraints (azimuth and elevation angle and rate, range and range rate, propagation delay, etc.) from the place to another object.
Sun Impose a variety of access constraints from the place to another object based on the position of the Sun and the Moon.
Temporal Impose time-based access constraints from the place to another object.
Vector Constrain access computations with respect to any valid vector or angle.
Special Special access constraints are defined in terms of geostationary belt exclusion, height above horizon, terrain grazing angle and exclusion of other scenario objects.
Search/Track

Radar Search/Track Constraints property pages enable you to enter minimum and maximum values for several parameters. You can also choose from the following Doppler options:

  • Search/Track. These parameters correspond to the radar's main channel. These parameters account for the polarization mismatch, if you select polarization on the Basic Polarization page.
  • ST w/Jamming. These parameters correspond to the main channel radar receiver that is under the influence of jamming. When the radar receiver polarization is set and the jammers are polarized, the search/track parameters take polarization mismatch into account. Most of these parameters are re-computed under the impact of jamming on the radar receiver main channel. For more information on the effects of jamming on constraints, see Constraints with Jamming.
  • S/T OrthoPol. These parameters correspond to the radar's orthogonal polarization channel.
  • S/T OrthoPolJam. These parameters correspond to the radar's orthogonal polarization channel under the threat of jamming.

You can extend the STK Radar SAR computation and constraints with the Search/Track plugin constraint. See Search/Track User Plugin.

SAR

SAR property pages enable you to impose a variety of constraints on synthetic aperture (SAR) radar.

  • SAR. These parameters correspond to the main channel (SAR).
  • SAR w/Jamming. These parameters correspond to the main channel under jamming. For more information on the effects of jamming on constraints, see Constraints with Jamming.
  • SAR OrthoPol. These parameters are enabled when you select the receiver side orthogonal polarization.
  • SAR OrthoPolJam. These parameters are enabled when you select the receiver side orthogonal polarization. For more information on the effects of jamming on constraints, see Constraints with Jamming.

You can extend the STK Radar SAR computation and constraints with the Search/Track plugin constraint. See SAR User Plugin.

Plugins An interface is provided for defining custom constraints in terms of user-supplied scripts created in VBScript and MATLAB.

RF Properties

Property Description
Environment Apply environmental factors that affect the performance of a communications link or a radar system.
Radar Cross Section Specify the radar cross section (RCS) parameters.

LASER Properties

Property Description
Environment Apply environmental factors that affect the performance of a laser communications link.

Subobjects

You can attach the following subobjects to a place: