Satellite: Lifetime

Orbit information produced using the Lifetime Tool. Each grid point represents one calculation, where the number of orbits per calculation is set by the lifetime tool settings.

Type: Time-varying data. Intended to be used only with elements from this same data provider.

Availability: Reports | Graphs

NameDimensionTypeDescription
TimeDateFormatReal NumberTime.
Semi-parameterDistanceUnitReal NumberThe semi-latus rectum, often designated by the letter p, related to the semimajor axis a and eccentricity e by p = a*(1-e^2).
Semi-major AxisDistanceUnitReal NumberA measure of the size of the orbit. Orbits with eccentricity <1 are ellipses, with major and minor axes identifying the symmetry axes of the ellipse, the major axis being the longer one. The value is half the length of the major axis.
EccentricityUnitlessReal NumberA measure of the shape of the orbit. Values <1 indicate an ellipse (where zero is a circular orbit) and values >1 indicate a hyperbola.
InclinationAngleUnitReal NumberThe angle between the orbit plane and the XY plane of the coordinate system.
Arg of PerigeeAngleUnitReal NumberThe angle from the ascending node to the periapsis vector measured in the orbit plane in the direction of the object's motion. The periapsis vector locates the closest point of the orbit. For a circular orbit, the value is defined to be zero (i.e., periapsis at the ascending node).
RAANAngleUnitReal NumberNot defined for this class of object.
Height of ApogeeDistanceUnitReal NumberThe difference between the apogee radius and the equatorial radius of the vehicle's central body (an approximation for the altitude).
Height of PerigeeDistanceUnitReal NumberThe difference between the perigee radius and the equatorial radius of the vehicle's central body (an approximation for the altitude).
Sidereal PeriodTimeUnitReal NumberThe period of the orbit, computed using the two-body formula involving the semimajor axis and the gravitational constant of the vehicle's central body.
Orbit CountUnitlessIntegerThe current orbit count.
Semi-parameter RateRateReal NumberThe change in semi-parameter divided by the current period.
Semi-major Axis RateRateReal NumberRate of change of semi-major axis. Computed by applying the variation of parameters equations of motion to the perturbative acceleration.
Eccentricity RateUnitless Per TimeReal NumberThe change in eccentricity divided by the current period.
Inclination RateAngleRateUnitReal NumberThe change in inclination divided by the current period.
Arg of Perigee RateAngleRateUnitReal NumberThe change in argument of periapse divided by the current period.
RAAN RateAngleRateUnitReal NumberThe change in RAAN divided by the current period.
Shadow DurationTimeUnitReal NumberThe average duration of the interval over which the satellite is in eclipse.
ApUnitlessReal NumberGeomagnetic activity index.
FBarUnitlessReal NumberAveraged index of the solar flux at a wavelength of 10.7 cm at the Earth's orbit.